ODOUR REMOVAL FROM WASTE COMPOSTING FACILITY USING PILOTSCALE FIXED BED BIOFILTERS - 2010

PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre (EBCRC) in conjunction with Murdoch University initiated extensive research in odour management utilising fixed bed biofiltration. Odour is a major problem faced by many industries including livestock, poultry, bioprocessing and secondary waste processing. Biofilters are effective in removing odours, but filters deteriorate, necessitating overdesign and regular replacement. From successful lab results field-testing was established at the Southern Regional Metropolitan Councils (SMRC) Regional Resource Recovery Centre (RRRC). PROJECT BACKGROUND The Waste Composting Facility (WCF) of the RRRC processes over 80,000 tonnes of household waste from the green-topped bins per annum, which is converted to compost. The waste is sorted on the tipping floor to separate organic and non-organic material. Organic waste is then processed through one of four biodigesters. Inside the digesters are natural bacteria that start the composting process and generate heat to around 60C, which destroys any harmful substances and sterilises the material. After screening the immature compost is then spread in the aeration building, in which the conditions are kept humid so the composting bacteria are at the most active and effective. The compost is regularly aerated, turned and watered, to speed up the compositing process. The finished compost is then used as a horticultural nutrition additive or potting mix additive. At each stage of the handling and processing odour is Through the RRRC and Climate Wise, the SMRC has prevented ventilated from the enclosed buildings through a series a total of 148,591 tonnes of of biofilters to abate the odour. There are four biofilters carbon dioxide equivalents that are traditional in-bed designed system using bark (TCO2-e) from entering the as the filter media. The SMRC have not been satisfied atmosphere, for the period July with the levels of odour reduction and the impact on 2007 to May 2008. nearby residents. They have made a number of This is equivalent to the annual modifications to the biofilter operation, replaced the greenhouse gas emissions of media, used various media mixes and increased media approximately 42,000 cars. volume. They sponsor of the EBCRC and aim to seek technology that will improve the biofilter performance at the WCF. Bioaction Pty Ltd (BPL) has developed innovative biofilter designs utilising a unique organic/mineral filtration media. Their innovation is small footprint, low energy, and minimal maintenance biofilter using a homogenous media with surface area, moisture retention, and porosity characteristics suitable for biofiltration. It is a highly robust media that resists mechanical and biological degradation. EBCRC sought the involvement of BPL to provide expertise in biofilter design as well as recognising the potential of their filter media. EBCRC in conjunction with Murdoch University and BPL, commissioned test biofilters at the RRRC site to test biofilter design concept and validate the performance of various media profiles and microbial performance. PILOT-SCALE FIXED BED BIOFILTER TESTING Four pilot-scale biofilters with different media profiles using blends of organic/ mineral blends were located at the corner of existing aeration floor biofilter (Figure 1). Two of the test filters were inoculated using an inoculum from the SMRC existing filter bed. Feed for the four pilot-scale biofilters came directly from the main airflow into the existing biofilter. This odorous air stream was then passed through a divider separating the air stream into 4 substreams feeding into the four pilot-scale biofilters (Figure 2). To ensure that all 4 pilot-scale biofilters were fed at the same rate, flow meters were installed for individual sub-streams measurement.

Figure 1 - SMRC Waste Composting Facility

CASE STUDY ODOUR REMOVAL WCF

Figure 2 - Test Biofilters located at the inflow plenum

QUANTIFICATION OF ODOUR REMOVAL EFFICIENCY Two methods of evaluation were employed; 1. Sensory concentration measurements were taken from the inlet and outlet of the test biofilters using olfactometer to determine the change of odour strength. The odour concentration measurements were performed using dynamic olfactometry according to the Australian Standard Determination of Odour Concentration by Dynamic Olfactometry AS/NZS4323.3: 2001.
1st Sample Start Up Sample Inflow feed Biofilter 1 Biofilter 2 Biofilter 3 Biofilter 4 Odour concentration odour units (OU) 10,090 197 239 69 256 2 Sample Inflow feed Biofilter 1 Biofilter 2 Biofilter 3 Biofilter 4
nd

% Odour removal N/A 98.0% 97.6% 99.3% 97.5%

Odour character Garbage/ fermented/ fruity Light citrus/earthy/slightly foul Earthy/slightly piney Earthy/dirt/wet Light citrus/earthy/slightly foul

Sample 3 months after fully operational % Odour removal N/A 99% 99% 99% 99% Odour character Garbage/ fermented/ fruity Light earthy/soil Light earthy/soil Light earthy/soil Light earthy/soil

Odour concentration - odour units (OU) 9,363 23 90 90 85 3

rd

Sample 9 months after fully operational % Odour removal N/A 98% 90% 97% 50% Odour character Garbage/ fermented/ fruity Earthy Piney/earthy Earthy/very slight piney Piney/disinfectant/light fruity

Sample Inflow feed Biofilter 1 Biofilter 2 Biofilter 3 Biofilter 4

Odour concentration - odour units (OU) 9,740 235 1,020 279 4,870*

* bio-mass loss due to heat exposure in the last sampling period

2.

Analytical measurement using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) to determine the removal of specific volatile compounds in the air stream. Air samples of one inlet and 4 outlets from the four pilot-scale biofilters were taken using Silco air sampling canisters and immediately sent to the Chemistry Centre of Western Australia for identification and quantification of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and volatile organosulphur compounds (VOSC) as per protocols outlined in US EPA TO-14A.

Organic Compound Classes Nitrogen Compounds Aliphatic hydrocarbons Aromatic hydrocarbons Alcohols Carbonyl compounds Terpenes Sulphur compounds Sum

Inlet ppbv 318.6 154.2 139.4 286.3 532.4 549.9 105.0 2085.5

2nd Sampling Event 3 months Biofilter 1 Biofilter 2 ppbv % ppbv % 75.4 76.3 219.2 31.2 30.0 80.5 37.5 75.7 54.9 60.6 166.8 -19.7 11.9 95.8 0 100.0 170.7 67.9 257.4 51.7 138.0 74.9 388.8 29.3 7.4 93.0 15.0 85.7 488.2 76.6 1084.1 48.0

Biofilter ppbv 27.8 21.6 100.5 0 204.8 168.4 7.2 530.2

3 % 91.3 86.0 27.9 100 61.5 69.4 93.1 74.6

Biofilter ppbv 30.0 13.1 2.8 1.9 159.6 49.9 7.3 264.5

4 % 90.6 91.5 98.0 99.3 70.0 90.9 93.0 87.3

CASE STUDY ODOUR REMOVAL WCF

Organic Compound Classes Nitrogen Compounds Aliphatic hydrocarbons Aromatic hydrocarbons Alcohols Carbonyl compounds Terpenes Sulphur compounds Other Sum

Inlet ppbv 416.7 64.4 229.6 935.5 1384.0 1657.5 1.7 173.8 4757.7

3rd Sampling Event 9 months Biofilter 1 Biofilter 2 ppbv % ppbv % 0 100 0 100 50.4 21.7 87.1 -35.2 108.5 52.7 196.5 14.4 21.8 97.7 25.3 97.3 275.0 80.1 352.9 74.5 39.4 97.6 288 82.6 0.4 76.5 1.1 35.3 118.9 31.6 173.9 -0.1 564.0 88.1 1037.8 78.2

Biofilter ppbv 0 23.1 33.4 47.7 401.4 37.8 0.6 145.2 666.2

3 % 100 64.1 85.5 94.9 71.0 97.7 64.7 16.5 86.0

Biofilter ppbv 0 125.0 324.0 259.5 829.7 1756.7 2.7 193.7 3366.1

4* % 100 -94.1 -41.1 72.3 40.1 -6.0 -58.8 -11.4 29.2

* bio-mass loss due to heat exposure in the last sampling period

SUMMARY Based on the two evaluation methods used (olfactometer and GC/MS) in this study, it is clear that biofilters using an organic/mineral media can significantly remove odour from composting facility waste air stream. It is evident that during this period physical and chemical adsorption properties of the media blends played significant role in odourous compounds removal. This is evident by the significantly higher non-polar monoterpenes removal by reactors using organic (hydrophobic) than the reactor using exclusively mineral (hydrophilic) media. The longterm sustainability of odour removal was demonstrated in the results due to the microbial communities on filter media surface to degrade the adsorbed compounds and subsequently regenerate the filter media.

CASE STUDY ODOUR REMOVAL WCF