Plasma Supported Odour Removal from Waste Air in Water Treatment Plants: An Industrial Case Study

Effects of plasma assisted waste air treatment from a water treatment plant have been investigated in several field tests. In particular the off-air for a thermal sludge dryer was investigated and treated. The intention of this study was to proof whether plasma assisted technologies are a possible solution for the removal of odour from waster air emitted by wastewater treatment facilities. The plasma treatment was combined with a catalytic (cupper-manganese) unit, a scrubbing unit, or a bio filter in order to demonstrate the abilities for waste air deodorization. The inlet and outlet gas was analysed by means of FTIR, FID, and chemical sensors and the odour removal was investigated by standardized olfactometry. A significant reduction of hydrogen sulphide and methane by means of combined plasma-catalyst-treatment has been measured, but the removal of hydrogen sulphide leads to the formation of unwanted by-products. Main effects of plasma treatment in the field tests can be compared to the results of laboratory studies published in the literature. A significant odour reduction up to about 90% was measured. Aldehydes and other hydrocarbons are marginally removed by plasma treatment as well as by the bio filter. The bio filter released sulphur containing substances (DMS, CS2, DMDS) which can be destroyed by plasma-catalytic treatment. Based on the results of the field tests a reliable concept for an industrial after treatment installation has been designed as described. Due to the high content of H2S a scrubber as the first treatment unit is desired. Downstream the scrubber the plasma/catalytic unit combined with the existing bio filter is proposed for the removal of the hydrocarbons and other odorous constituents.