Download - Master thesis_ Ms. Perez Sierra
Potential of Biofiltration for VOCs and Odor Emissions Control in African and Caribbean Countries
Master ThesisWASTE Master of Science Program
September 6th, 2013
Presented by: Johanny Perez, MSc. (Candidate)
Author and ExaminersAuthor and ExaminersAuthor:
Johanny Arilexis Perez Sierra
• MSc. (candidate) WASTE: Environmental Engineering
University of Stuttgart’ 13• IPSWaT – BMBF scholarship
holder• B.Sc. Agriculture Engineering
EARTH University’ 10• Annenberg Foundation
scholarship• Agriculture Technician
Loyola Polytechnique Institute’ 06
Examiners:Dr.-Ing. Martin Reiser
Dr.-Ing. Klaus Fischer
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Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline
• Introduction• Objective• Methodology
– Research structure
– Survey
• SoA: Biofiltration– Visit to installed Biofilter
• Results• Conclusions• References• Q&A
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Installed biofilter in the biogas plant: Vergärungsanlage Leonberg
IntroductionIntroduction
• Governments enforce legislative regulating structures to limit the generation of polluting substances and the emission of air pollutants (Hansmann and Kroeger, 2001).
• The persistence of odors causes nuiasances to sensitive people (Nicell, 2009); and VOCs may be precursors of pollutants that degrade the ozone layer (Luo et al., 2011).
• The need of waste gas treatment technologies has increased tremendously. Biofiltration has been proven as an efficient technique for the treatment of VOCs and odor emissions (Adler, 2001).
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ObjectiveObjective
Main Objective
To assess the potential of utilizing biofilters in African and Caribbean countries (AF&CA) for odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions control.
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MethodologyMethodologyResearch StructureResearch Structure
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MethodologyMethodologySurveySurvey
• An online survey running for 1 month– designed with Google drive - spread sheets
application– comprised a list of 20 questions– 61 African and 28 Caribbean Countries – The link of the survey was posted in online regional
groups and also distributed by direct requests
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Biofiltration: State of the ArtBiofiltration: State of the Art
• Biofiltration : conversion of odorous exhaust gases and VOCs into carbon dioxide, water, minerals, biomass and a non-odorous gas, as part of the metabolism of microorganisms (Lee, 1998).
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Picture Source: Cabrera, Martinez and Cantero, 2011
Biofilter in a composting plant Biofilter in a composting plant
Biofilter at Kompostwerk
Kirchheim u. Teck
• Flowrate: 110.000 m3/h• Filter loading: 95 (m3/h)/m2• Area of the biofilter:1.200 m2
with a depth of 2 m• In total a volume of 2.400 m3• Residence time of the waste
gas: 78 .6 seconds (1.31 min.)• Removal efficiency: 98%
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ResultsResults
• Criteria– Institutions– Regulations/ limit
values– Cases: VOCs
emission values/ odors– Distributors of biofilter
materials/ prices– Services for
biofiltration
• African Countries– South Africa– Nigeria– Ghana– Kenya
• Caribbean Countries– Dominican Rep.– Jamaica– Trinidad and Tobago– Cuba
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Results: South AfricaResults: South Africa
• Institution: National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT)
• Regulation: National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act
• Case NATREF: losses up to 231,682.86 €/year, due to VOC emissions
• Companies which offer biofilter materials: +11
• Companies which offer services for air pollution control: + 8
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Picture source: CIA, 2013.
Results: NigeriaResults: Nigeria
• Institution: National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA)
• Regulation: National Guidelines and Standards for Industrial Effluents, Gaseous Emissions and Hazardous Waste Management in Nigeria (1988 No. 58)
• Case of Ibadan Oyo State: mechanically ventilated livestock building
• Companies which offer biofilter materials: +4
• Companies which offer services for air pollution control: 3
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Picture source: CIA, 2013.
Results: Dominican Rep.Results: Dominican Rep.• Institution: Ministry of
Environment and Natural Resources
• Regulation: General Law of Environment and Natural Resources, no. 64-00
• Case of emissions inventory (2009): 437,730.9 ton/year VOCs (stationary sources) – sectors: manufacture of chemicals, textiles, printing activities, beverages, a. o.
• Companies which offer biofilter materials: 7
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Picture source: CIA, 2013.
Results: JamaicaResults: Jamaica
• Institution: National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)
• Regulation: Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act (2006)
• Case of Negril & Ocho Rios Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Companies which offer biofilter materials: 4
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Picture source: CIA, 2013.
Results: SurveyResults: Survey
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• After 1 month: 92 responses
• 20 questions regarding:– Governmental institutions– Laws– Description of odor problems– Knowledge about biofilters– Techniques used to control odors– Availability/prices of biofilter materials, among
others.
Results: SurveyResults: Survey
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Main sources of odors in AF&CA
Geographical region of participants
ConclusionsConclusions
• Biofiltration is a latent technology in AF&CA
• South Africa and Nigeria: the most feasible countries
• In Africa exists consulting companies for monitoring of VOCs and odors
• Dom. Rep., Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago: emission targets and limits for some VOCs
• In the case of Cuba, the information was very restricted
• In both regions biofilter bed materials are available and at affordable prices, even for free – alternative materials
• People recognize problems with odors and corroborated the existence of biofilter material
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ReferencesReferences• Adler, S. (2001). Biofiltration: a primer. American Institute for Chemical Engineers:
Center for Waste Reduction Technologies (CEP). Magazine Environmental Protection, pp. 33-41.
• Cabrera, G., Martinez, M. and Cantero, D. (2011). Biofilters. Journal of Engineering Fundamentals of Biotechnology, Vol. 2, pp. 303–318.
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The world factbook. (Online). Visited on 07.03.13. Available here: https://www.cia.gov/library/
• Hansmann, K. and Kroeger, C. (2001). Environmental management policies: A comparison of reactive and proactive approaches. Greener Manufacturing and Operations: From Design to Delivery and Back, pp. 191-204.
• Lee, D. (1998). Development of an alternative biofilter system for odor treatment. Thesis for obtaining Doctor of Philosophy. University of British Columbia.
• Luo, D., Corey, R., Propper, R., Collins, J., Komorniczak, A., Davis, M., Berger, N. and Lum, S. (2011). Comprehensive environmental impact assessment of exempt volatile organic compounds in California. Journal of Environmental Science and Policy. Vol 14, pp. 585-593.
• Nicell, J. (2009). Assessment and regulation of odour impacts. Journal of Atmospheric Environment 43, pp. 196–206.
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