Dynamics of Volatile Sulfur Compounds and Volatile Organic Compounds in Sewer Headspace Air
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 2
Abstract
A 2-year monitoring study was conducted at a sewer pumping station to investigate volatile sulfur compound (VSC) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emission dynamics over a range of timescales to gain an understanding of how they impact the design and execution of sewer odorant monitoring. It is demonstrated that the sewer system was highly dynamic and influenced by a range of processes at different time scales. Based upon odor activity values, hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan had strong potential to be odorous, while dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl disulfide were potentially odorous at source concentrations. In general, VOCs were not likely to be odorous at source concentrations, although some episodic elevations in aromatic hydrocarbon and terpene concentrations to potentially odorous levels were observed and as a result VSCs are the primary targets for sewer odor abatement. A strong diurnal emission cycle was observed, with dynamic ranges (ratio of peak to average concentration) between 2.34 and 4.55 for specific VSCs and 1.82 to 10.6 for specific VOCs. Interday variability over a 1-week period was relatively low for many VSCs, with coefficients of variance generally ranging from 11 to 30%, while VOC emissions had greater variability, with coefficients of variance ranging from 29 to 220%.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Australian Research Council Sewer Odour and Corrosion Research (SCORe) Linkage Project LP0882016, with industry support from Barwon Regional Water Corporation, Gold Coast Water, Hunter Water Corporation, Melbourne Water Corporation, South Australian Water Corporation, South East Water Corporation, Sydney Water Corporation, Veolia Water Australia, Water Research Australia, and Water Corporation Western Australia.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 2 • February 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 15, 2015
Accepted: May 19, 2016
Published online: Aug 11, 2016
Discussion open until: Jan 11, 2017
Published in print: Feb 1, 2017
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