title: Control of DMSO in wastewater to prevent DMS nuisance odors.
abstract: A "canned corn-like" odor was periodically detected at Philadelphia's Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant (NEWPCP) for more than two decades. Previous research concluded that it was caused by dimethyl sulfide (DMS), from the reduction of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) discharged by a local industrial customer. Several process modifications were implemented at the industrial site to eliminate the "canned corn-like" odor. Results showed that enhancing DMSO recovery by 25% and equalizing the aqueous wash discharge over a longer period of time reduced the DMSO source peak discharge from 1124 to 49 kg/h, and the peak concentrations of DMSO and DMS at the NEWPCP by 81 and 88%. Reduction of DMSO discharge by segregating the first wash for off-site disposal further reduced the peak discharge of DMSO from 49 to 18 kg/h at the source, and DMSO and DMS concentrations at the NEWPCP by 48 and 92%. Segregation of the dehydration distillate for off-site disposal reduced DMSO discharge by 3 kg/h. Modifications by concentrating a higher percentage of the DMSO into the first wash and increasing the DMSO solvent recovery by an additional 33% reduced the total DMSO discharge from 522 to 200 kg and peak discharge rate from 15 to 6 kg/h. All of these process modifications collectively reduced the DMSO source discharge by 92% and the DMSO concentration received at NEWPCP by 97%, from 12 mg/L to approximately 500 microg/L. At this reduced concentration, the company's wastewater discharge was no longer found to cause the "canned corn" odor at the fence line of NEWPCP, thereby mitigating any further need for odor control.
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Laboratory Services, Philadelphia Water Department, 1500 Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19124, USA. xianhao.cheng@phila.gov
authors.forename: Xianhao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wodarczyk
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lendzinski
authors.forename: Earl
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peterkin
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Burlingame
mesh_terms: D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D009812:Odorants / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C004784:dimethyl sulfide; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide