SYNTHETIC MEDIA BIOFILTER ELIMINATES HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND OTHER REDUCED SULPHUR COMPOUND ODORS

Author： Shareefdeen Zarook Herner Brian Webb Derek Wilson Steve

ISSN： 1938-6478

Source： Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, Vol.2003, Iss.7, 2003-01, pp. : 153-161

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Abstract

Innovative synthetic biofilter media has revolutionized biofilter technology for removal of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) odors from several wastewater treatment facilities across North America. The major drawback of biofilter technology in the past was use of organic wood-based media, which had several problems including high-pressure drop, frequent media replacement, lack of nutrients, poor buffering properties and rapid degradation of the media. Modular and in ground biofilters are now filled with this innovative synthetic media. Microorganisms grow over a higher surface area of the media as thin biofilms where odor contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide and reducexd sulphur compounds diffuse and are subsequently biologically oxidized into odorless products. Typically H₂S has been identified as the principal odor contributor associated with waste water treatment applications. Other compounds such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS), dimethyl di-sulfide (DMDS), methyl mercaptans and various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) also contribute significantly to odor complaints due to nuisance. The removal of H₂S does not necessarily mitigate the odor problem unless these compounds are addressed. This paper focuses on the elimination of H₂S using synthetic BIOSORBENS™ biofilter media in the absence and presence of other reduced sulphur compounds. Laboratory and field data from BIOREM's biofilter installations that treat sulphur odorous air from wastewater treatment applications are discussed.