CHARACTERIZING AIR EMISSIONS

FROM WASTEWATER FACILITIES

Malcolm Fabiyi, PhD, MBA

Hydromantis USA
Agenda
• Overview – air emissions in wastewater treatment
• Sources of emissions
• Measurement & Reporting of emissions
• Role of Fate & Transport models in characterizing
Air Emissions
• Conclusion
Wastewater Treatment
The Activated Sludge Process
Air Pollutants & Odors
Sources in wastewater treatment

• THMs from Cl2 disinfection

Generated In- • Reduced Sulfur Compounds
situ O2 – Aerobic → CO2
NO3 – Anoxic → N2
SO4 – Anaerobic → H2S

In Wastewater Odors – Mercaptans, H2S

influent VOCs – Benzene, Toluene, etc.
HAPs
Air Pollution Regulations Through the Years
The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955
• First federal air pollution legislation
• Funded research on scope and sources of air pollution
Clean Air Act of 1963
• Authorized a national program to address air pollution
• Authorized research into techniques to minimize air pollution
Air Quality Act of 1967
• Enforcement procedures involving interstate transport of pollutants
• Expanded research activities
Clean Air Act of 1970
• Established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
• Established requirements for State Implementation Plans
• Establishment of New Source Performance Standards for stationary sources
• Establishment of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
• Authorized control of motor vehicle emissions
1977 Amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1970
• Authorized provisions related to prevention of significant deterioration
• Authorized provisions relating to non-attainment areas
1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act of 1970 • What happens to odors &
• Authorized programs for acid deposition control HAPs in conveyance & WWTP
• Authorized controls for 189 toxic pollutants, including those previously regulated by
(Fate & Transport)
the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)
• Established permit program requirements • What happens to HAPs that
• Expanded provisions concerning NAAQS are emitted into the air at the
treatment plant (Dispersion)?

Fate & Transport models developed in response to 1990 CAA Amendments

Contaminant Fate & Transport in Wastewater
Treatment
Air Emission

Volatilization THMs production

Effluent pass through

(Soluble VOC)

Biodegradation

Adsorbed VOC
What are Emission Sources?

• Wherever energy is transferred to wastewater

(wherever turbulence is created)
• Gravity (waterfalls, weirs)
• Mixers
• Surface Aerators
• Diffusers
• Wherever air streams with low concentrations of
VOCs are in contact with VOC laden liquids
Activated Sludge Aeration
Mechanical Aeration Diffused Aeration

• Extreme turbulence causes VOC • Only about 10-20% of O2 is dissolved

stripping and surface renewal
• i.e., only 2-4% of influent gas @ 21% O2 is
dissolved
• ~96%-98% vent gas strips VOCs and odors!
 Clarifiers
Surface Weirs

Emissions from both quiescent surface and weirs

• Large surface area enhances VOC release

• Note foam in the trough due to air

entrainment
Emissions from Drop Structures & Ponds

Drop Structure Equalization Ponds

• A drop structure with process flow • Wind passing over large wastewater surface
flowing into an existing process stream areas results in high surface volatilization
rates
Emissions Estimation Methods
Direct Methods
Direct Measurement of Off-gas Measurement from Open Surfaces

• For enclosed headspaces, pipe flows, • For open, non-confined surfaces (e.g.
etc. aeration tanks)
• Analyze concentration in off-gas flow • Use floating flux chambers
(Cg) • Trap and analyze emissions from
• Measure off-gas flow rate (Q g) surface area enclosed by chamber
• Emission rate = Cg * Q g • Measure gas flow through chamber
• Emission rate = Cg * Q g

Indirect Methods
Emission Factors (EFs) Mathematical Modeling

• Often based on some unit of • Main EPA approved models are

production (e.g. lb of product per day) BASTE, TOXCHEM™ and WATER9 (EPA)
or WWTP operation (e.g. flow) • Based on mass balances, kinetic rate
• Mass emitted = EF * mass production expressions and empirically-derived
rate relationships
• Accuracy is not that great; requires
much historical evidence
Measurement from Covered Tanks

• Measure off-gas flow rate (Q g)

• Emission rate = Cg * Q g
Measurement from Open Surfaces
Floating Flux Chamber

Direct Measurement of Air Emissions is Very Challenging

Indirect Estimation Methods

Emission Factors (EFs)

• Often based on some unit of production (e.g. lb of product per day) or WWTP
operation (e.g. flow)

• Mass emitted = EF * mass production rate

• Accuracy is not that great; requires much historical evidence

Mathematical Modeling

• EPA specifies applicable modeling methods in 40 CFR Part 63

• Two main models are TOXCHEM™ and WATER 9 (EPA)

• Based on mass balances, kinetic rate expressions and empirically-derived

relationships
 • Representative samples may be hard to collect
• Field staff may lack knowledge or resources for
optimum sampling
Reasons for Modeling • Measurements impacted by lots of variables –
wind speed, throughput (Hi/Low flow), etc.
• Applicable to facilities in upgrade or design

What sampling
How and where do
point is
you sample?
appropriate?

Concentrations vary across tank

&
Multiple sampling points required
Mixing & treatment can be Access can be
non homogenous challenging

Modeling offers a robust, regulatory approved means of determining pollutant fate

 Contaminant Fate & Transport Model
• Estimates fate and emission rates of organic compounds and
metals from collection and treatment system components
• Used since 1991, +840 compounds & metals
• Specified in regulations (CAAA, SARA – 40 CFR, Part 63)
• Customizable (processes, compounds, parameters)
• Applications
• Contaminant fate
• Technology evaluation
• Parameter estimation / validation
 How Models are Used
60000

WAS TSS Concentration (mg/L)

50000

40000

30000

20000

10000

0
Calibrate to
Known
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Tim e (days)

Simulated Measured

Performance

Generate
Create Compliance
Model Reports

• Hydraulic model
• Biological model Compare, Evaluate
• Aeration model Sensitivity
• Equilibrium chemistry
& Troubleshoot
• Transport analyses
• Mechanical & Thermal effects
Characterizing Emissions With Toxchem

• Multiple influent streams

• 13 contaminants across both streams
• Several unique process treatment steps
Characterizing Emissions With Toxchem

• Each unit process can be specified

• +840 chemicals and metals are available
• Custom data can be input as well
Database Details
Benzene Chloroform

Methanol Naphthalene
Characterizing contaminant Fate
Benzene

Methanol
 Total Air Emissions Summary
1,2-Dimethylnaphthalene Acenaphthene
Methanol
1% 1%
1%

Dichlorobenzene,1,4-
9%
Benzene
28%
Chloroform (Trichloromethane)
Acetone 11%
2%
Naphthalene
3%

Xylene,P- (1,4-Xylene)
11%

Toluene
15% Benzo(A)Pyrene
0%
Hexane(-N)
18%

1,2-Dimethylnaphthalene Acenaphthene Benzene Benzo(A)Pyrene

Toluene Hexane(-N) Xylene,P- (1,4-Xylene) Naphthalene
Acetone Chloroform (Trichloromethane) Dichlorobenzene,1,4- Methanol
 Relationship between Fate & Transport
Models and Dispersion Models

Fate & Transport models: What Dispersion Model: How far

happens to Odor & air emissions in
do the emissions carry?
Conveyance systems and treatment Plant
(Water 9, Toxchem™) (AERMOD, CALPUFF)

Most accurate Fate & Transport model

Conclusion
• Odors and VOCs are generated / released in the wastewater
treatment process
• Process models offer a robust approach for characterizing
emissions
• Have regulatory approval (40 CFR Part 63)
• Comprehensively cover all aspects of wastewater treatment
• Can be calibrated to site specifics
• Additional benefits of modeling
• Incorporate emission mitigation into process design
• Enable sensitivity analyses
• Troubleshooting – e.g., odor & emission sources & concentrations
• Can be readily integrated with dispersion models
Questions

[email protected]
773-
773-647-
647-8872
Factors Affecting Air Emissions
• Waste characteristics – flow
rate, temperature, chemical composition, others
(suspended solids, oils)
• Chemical compound properties – Henry’s coefficient
(volatility), molecular weight, density, partition
parameters. Biodegradation rates
• Process unit parameters – physical
dimensions, process parameters, covered or open
processes, air flow rates, aerator power input, sludge
characteristics
• Site & ambient conditions – temperature, wind
speed, elevation
 Clean Air Act – 11 Titles
• Title I – attainment & maintenance of NAAQS*
• Title III – Air Toxics Control
• Title IV – Acid Rain Control
• Title V – Permits & Reporting
• Title VI – Stratospheric Ozone Protection
• Tile VII - Enforcement

Regulated Air Pollutants

• Six criteria pollutants from 1963 CAA (SO, NOx, CO, Pb, O3, Pm)
• VOCs
• NSPS – H2S, Reduced Sulfur Compounds, total reduced sulfur, sulfuric acid mist, dioxin/furan, fluorides
and HCl
• 188 Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)

* NAAQS - National Ambient Air Quality Standards

 Emission Factors

• Often based on some unit of

production (e.g. lb of product per
day) or WWTP operation (e.g.
flow)
• Mass emitted = EF * mass
production rate
• Accuracy is not that great; requires
much historical evidence

http://www3.epa.gov/ttn/chief/efpac/protocol/index.html