Technical Publications

Field Trial Testing of a Biotrickling Filter for Sewage Odor Control

Lawrence C.C. Koe, Lin Wu, Yong Ying Loo and Yan Wu

ABSTRACT
A series of laboratory and field-trial experiments have been carried out to determine the performance of a biotrickling filter for the removal of gaseous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants are predominantly present in sewage air at municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). While the trial biotrickling filter was modified from an existing chemical wet scrubber and the design may not be optimal, the results obtained in this study illustrate the achievable efficiency for H2S and VOC removal. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the biotrickling filter can handle wide fluctuations in H2S concentration in sewage air. In the biotrickling process, H2S is biodegraded to stable sulfate product. The biotrickling process eliminates the need to handle spent chemicals — an expensive and hazardous process associated with chemical scrubbers. It is, therefore, a clean technology as it produces no secondary pollution.