Field Performance of Activated Carbon Adsorption for Sewage Air

Sewage air at the inlet works of a municipal wastewater treatment plant, was simultaneously pumped through two pilot columns, one filled with an alkali‐impregnated carbon material, while the other was filled with a nonalkali‐impregnated grade. Odor and $H_{2}S$ concentrations at the influent and effluent ports of the carbon columns were continuously monitored for about eight months. The odor and $H_{2}S$ concentrations of the influent sewage air varied significantly throughout the study period, averaging $120\mathrm{SOU}/m^3$ and 5.3 ppm, respectively. Breakthrough of odor at the effluent ports occurred earlier than that for $H_{2}S\text{,}$ and the initial breakthrough odor was exerted mainly by non‐$H_{2}S$ compounds. Although the alkali‐impregnated carbon was capable of removing a much larger quantity of $H_{2}S$ than the nonalkali‐impregnated grade, its effectiveness in removing other odorous but non‐$H_{2}S$ gaseous compounds was less significant. The cost of using nonalkali‐impregnated activated carbon for odor removal was comparable to that of the alkali‐impregnated carbon. This cost comparison, however, ignores the effect of regeneration of the carbons.