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Investigating the Capacity of an Activated Sludge Process to Reduce Volatile Organic Compounds and Odor Emissions
Author(s) -
Barbosa Vera,
Hobbs Phil,
Sneath Robert,
Burgess Joanna,
Callan Joanne,
Stuetz Richard
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143005x72876
Subject(s) - odor , hydrogen sulfide , chemistry , volatile organic compound , activated sludge , aeration , environmental chemistry , sulfur , dimethyl disulfide , dimethyl sulfide , methanethiol , waste management , pulp and paper industry , environmental engineering , environmental science , sewage treatment , organic chemistry , engineering
The effects of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) diffusion into activated sludge (AS) on odor and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in offgas were studied over an 8‐week period. Most VOCs detected in the offgas of both aeration tanks were aromatic hydrocarbons. The VOC concentrations generally decreased when H 2 S was introduced to the AS compared with the control, indicating a negative effect of H 2 S on VOC removal. Two volatile organic sulfur compounds present in the test AS offgas showed an increase followed by a decrease during H 2 S peak loads. Six VOCs and odor concentration increased during the introduction of an H 2 S peak; however no correlation was observed between H 2 S and odor concentration. The increase in odor concentration resulted from the increase in the concentration of six aromatic VOCs, which had their removal slowed down during a 100‐ppmv H 2 S peak. Activated sludge diffusion provides effective H 2 S removal with minimal affect on odor emissions.