The Impact of Technological Processes on Odorant Emissions at Municipal Waste Biogas Plants

Abstract

<jats:p>Municipal waste treatment is inherently associated with odour emissions. The compounds characteristic of the processes used for this purpose, and at the same time causing a negative olfactory sensation, are organic and inorganic sulphur and nitrogen compounds. The tests were carried out at the waste management plant, which in the biological part, uses the methane fermentation process and is also equipped with an installation for the collection, treatment, and energetic use of biogas. The tests include measurements of the four odorant concentrations and emissions, i.e., volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), and methanethiol (CH3SH). Measurements were made using a MultiRae Pro portable gas detector sensor. The tests were carried out in ten series for twenty measurement points in each series. The results show a significant impact of technological processes on odorant emissions. The types of waste going to the plant are also important in shaping this emission. On the one hand, it relates to the waste collection system and, on the other hand, the season of year. In addition, it has been proved that the detector used during the research is a valuable tool enabling the control of technological processes in municipal waste processing plants.</jats:p>

Odour Load of Selected Elements of the Technological Line at a Municipal Waste Biogas Plant

“…Selective collection of composite packaging began in the service area only in June 2020. At the biogas plant analysed in [16], VOC emissions from the waste storage hall were reported at a similar level, in the range of 150-415 g/h (average 298 g/h, RSD 245%). At other biogas plants processing mixed MSW, the VOC emission values from above mixed MSW in the unloading and storage hall were set at a slightly lower level; they were 25-106 g/h (average 54 g/h, RSD 44%) in the case of one biogas plant, and 11-264 g/h (average 102 g/h, RSD 81%) in the case of the second tested biogas installation [17].…”

“…According to Turin and Yoshii [15], odorants are characterised by properties such as volatility, hydrophobicity, and a molecular weight of less than about 300 g/mol. The odour impact of waste treatment plants is mainly influenced by such factors as the technology used, type of waste, technological regime, the occurrence of failure of technological lines or their elements, temperature, and relative humidity of the air, as well as compliance of plant employees with the technological regime [16][17][18].…”

The Air and Sewage Pollutants from Biological Waste Treatment

“…The scope of the research includes both physical and chemical parameters of technological wastewater and gases emitted from the tank into which sew-age flows. The odorant concentration: ammonia (resolution: 1.0 ppm), volatile organic compounds (resolution 10 ppb), hydrogen sulphide (resolution: 0.1 ppm) and methyl mercaptan (resolution: 0.1 ppm) were determined using the MultiRae Pro portable gas detector with build-in a pumping system in five repetitions at each measurement site [26].…”

Odors Emitted from Biological Waste and Wastewater Treatment Plants: A Mini-Review

“…For example, Wisniewska et al (2020) monitored odors and malodorous compounds in different parts of an anaerobic digestion plant treating food waste. The authors concluded that the zone of waste collection was the main emissions source of the plant [62]. In another similar study [63], waste storage, fermentation preparation, and digestate dewatering were the main emission odor sources in a Polish MSW biogas treatment plant, with ranges of 4 to 78 ou/m 3 for fermentation preparation and from 8 to 448 ou/m 3 for digestate dewatering.…”