Extended Abstract
Potential of Biofiltration for VOCs and Odor Emissions Control in African and Caribbean Countries Perez Sierra, Johanny Arilexis * Supervisors: Dr.-Ing. Martin Reiser and Dr.-Ing. Klaus Fischer Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management Universität Stuttgart, Germany * Corresponding Author’s E-mail: j.arilexis@gmail.com 31.08.2013 Key words: biofiltration, biofilters, odor, VOC, African, Caribbean, emissions control.
Introduction Odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are typical products of industrial processes that may cause nuiasances in the case of odors (Nicell, 2009) and potential environmental threats, regarding VOCs, since these may be precursors of pollutants that degrade the ozone layer (Luo et al., 2011). The latter may be originated from chemical mechanisms, solvent use, petroleum processing, among others (Devinny, Deshusses, & Webster, 1999; Atkinson and Arey, 2003); odors may be generated from livestock, food processing industries, landfills, and waste water treatment plants, among others (Nanda, Sarangi and Abraham, 2012). Biofiltration is a technique that employs a biofilm and a water layer to eliminate odorous compounds and several pollutants in the exhaust gases (Devinny, Deshusses, & Webster, 1999). This technique is a mature technology which has demonstrated to be economically and technically efficient (Adler, 2001). It has been vastly employed in diverse developed countries, such as in Germany, the United States and the Netherlands (Devinny, Deshusses, & Webster, 1999; Leson and Winer, 1991). No publications were found regarding experiences from the utilization of biofilters in African and Caribbean countries (AF&CA). The purpose of this investigation, therefore, was to assess the potential of biofiltration to be established in AF&CA as an effective biological waste air treatment technique. Methodology The methodology consisted of a random selection of four countries from each region and an exhaustive literature review for each country. The research focused on the existence of any regulatory framework (institutions and standards) concerning air quality control or any emission limit values. It was also considered the availability of biofilter materials and companies that distribute them. Moreover, an online survey was designed and distributed among professionals from these countries, in order to have a general impression on the potential of this technology.