Biofiltration for odor mitigation in water resource recovery facilities

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Microbiology
• Air Pollution Control

Background:

• Odor emissions from water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) impact urban well-being and necessitate stricter regulations.
• Key odorants include hydrogen sulfide, reduced sulfur compounds, volatile organic compounds, and nitrogen compounds.
• Conventional odor control methods include chemical treatments and air treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in biofiltration technology for odor control in WRRFs.
• To focus on the removal of hydrogen sulfide and organic sulfur compounds.
• To discuss critical design and operational parameters for optimizing biofilter performance.

Main Methods:

• Biofiltration systems (biofilters and biotrickling filters) utilize immobilized microorganisms to degrade odorous compounds.
• Biofilters operate with intermittent water supply for high odor removal efficiency.
• Biotrickling filters use continuous flow, suitable for higher pollutant loads but less effective for low-solubility compounds.

Main Results:

• Biofiltration is an environmentally friendly and efficient odor removal method.
• Key performance factors include empty bed residence time, media type, moisture, and microbial diversity.
• Media composition and nutrient supply are crucial for optimizing performance, especially at high pollutant concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Biofiltration offers a sustainable solution for managing odor emissions from WRRFs.
• Understanding and controlling design and operational parameters are vital for effective odor management.
• Further research and application of optimized biofilter technology can improve urban air quality near WRRFs.