MONITORING, MODELING, AND TREATMENT OF ODORS/ODORANTS AT WATER RECLAMATION PLANTS

A thorough study including odor monitoring, modeling and treatment as three important aspects of odor control in WRPs has been performed in this research. Measurement of H2S emissions from odor sources was proven to be an essential step in odor monitoring program. The H2S emission rates were measured from various sources throughout a WRP for 9 sampling events during winter and summer. During summer, both the average and the maximum emission rates of H2S from liquid treatment processes increased significantly compared to those measured during winter. However, for solids-handling processes, the emission rates remained constant because sludge characteristics did not vary throughout the year. The total sulfide concentrations present in liquid treatment processes were higher than those in preliminary and primary treatment units but at much lower levels in secondary treatment. Rates of H2S emission from the headworks were correlated to daily average wastewater temperature, TKN concentration, and flow rate. AERMOD was used as the modeling tool to evaluate the odor impact of Egan WRP on the surrounding communities. The emission rates could significantly affect the modeling results. Long-term H2S monitoring increases the possibility of developing the proper emission rate for the worst-case scenario. Excluding the modeling during the night would avoid overestimation of odor impact and excessive odor control. In the laboratory-scale study of O3 oxidation of H2S, O3 oxidation was proven to be a fast and effective method to remove H2S from the odorous air emitted from wastewater treatment processes. The increased initial ratio of O3/H2S enhances the removal rate of H2S. The consumption ratio of O3/H2S is a function of input reactant ratios. A multiple linear regression model (R2=0.84) has been developed to predict the H2S residual for given initial H2S and O3 concentrations and reaction time. The increased moisture content of the odorous air enhanced the H2S removal while DMS and DMDS inhibit H2S removal by competing for the limited O3 supply.Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering, May 201