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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