Can wastewater treatment equipment remove odors?

In industrial production and urban life, wastewater treatment equipment has become an important facility for ensuring environmental sanitation and realizing the recycling of water resources. However, many people often have questions when purchasing or using wastewater treatment equipment: "Can wastewater treatment equipment deodorize?" In fact, wastewater often produces foul odors during treatment. If these odors are not effectively controlled, they not only affect the surrounding environment but may also violate environmental regulations. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the causes of wastewater odor, the deodorization principles of wastewater treatment equipment, common deodorization technologies, and practical application cases to help enterprises and environmental managers fully understand the deodorization capabilities of wastewater treatment equipment.

1. Why Does Wastewater Produce an Odor?

Before being discharged into a treatment system, wastewater typically contains a large amount of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, and microorganisms. These components produce gases during decomposition and fermentation, resulting in unpleasant odors. The main reasons include:

Organic Matter Decomposition: Urban domestic wastewater and industrial wastewater contain a large amount of biodegradable organic matter. When wastewater decomposes in an anaerobic or hypoxic environment, microorganisms produce odorous gases such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and ammonia (NH₃).

Nitrogen and phosphorus compound release: Ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus compounds produce nitrogen oxides or volatile phosphorus compounds during biochemical reactions. These gases have a distinctly pungent odor.

Anaerobic fermentation: In sewage pipe networks or treatment ponds, if oxygen is lacking, anaerobic microorganisms decompose organic matter, producing malodorous gases such as hydrogen sulfide and methane. These are major sources of odor in urban sewage and industrial wastewater.

Therefore, wastewater itself has a potential odor, and deodorization is an indispensable aspect of wastewater treatment system design and operation.

2. Basic Principles of Deodorization in Wastewater Treatment Equipment 

The deodorization function of wastewater treatment equipment is mainly achieved through three principles: physical, chemical, and biological.

Physical Deodorization

Adsorption method: Adsorbing volatile gases rising from wastewater, such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, using activated carbon or other porous materials.

Condensation method: Cooling the air containing odorous gases, causing some of the odorous gases to liquefy or condense, thereby reducing the odor concentration.

Gas-liquid contact method: Using spray towers or scrubbing towers, odorous gases pass through a liquid solution, reacting with the chemical components in the solution, thereby reducing the odor. Chemical Deodorization

Oxidizing Agent Method: Commonly used oxidizing agents include sodium hypochlorite, ozone, and hydrogen peroxide, which oxidize hydrogen sulfide or ammonia in odorous gases into odorless or low-odor substances.

Neutralizing Agent Method: By adding acids or alkalis to adjust the pH value of the waste gas, ammonia or hydrogen sulfide is converted into non-volatile compounds, thereby reducing odor.

Biological Deodorization

Biofilter: Specific microorganisms are cultivated on the packing material, using organic matter or sulfides in the odorous gas as nutrients. The microorganisms decompose the odor into harmless substances such as CO₂ and water.

Biological Scrubbing Method: In a scrubbing tower, odorous gases pass through water or biological liquid, where microorganisms decompose the organic components in the gas, thus achieving deodorization.

In summary, wastewater treatment equipment is not simply "water treatment." Many advanced systems integrate deodorization modules, achieving the dual effect of wastewater treatment and deodorization through the synergistic use of physical, chemical, and biological methods.

3. Application of Deodorization Technology in Common Wastewater Treatment Equipment 

Modern wastewater treatment equipment boasts mature deodorization technology. Different solutions can be adopted depending on the treatment object and scenario:

Deodorization at Sewage Lifting Pump Stations:Urban sewage lifting pump stations are high-risk areas for odors. Common practices include:

Setting up activated carbon adsorption boxes to adsorb the exhaust gas from the pump station;

Configuring spray towers to use diluted acid or biological liquid for spraying to purify the gas.

Deodorization at Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants:Odors are particularly noticeable near aeration tanks, anaerobic tanks, or sludge tanks. Treatment methods include:

Biofilter deodorization:Cultivating aerobic microorganisms to degrade sulfides and ammonia;

Oxidant dosing:Adding ozone or sodium hypochlorite to gas pipelines or exhaust outlets to quickly remove odors;

Fully enclosed system:Sealing the tank and piping network, combined with centralized collection and treatment of exhaust gas, to prevent odor diffusion.

Deodorization in Industrial Wastewater Treatment Equipment:Industrial wastewater contains special organic or chemical substances, resulting in a stronger odor. Odor removal technologies typically employ:

A combination of activated carbon adsorption and chemical oxidation;

Adding alkaline solutions or specialized deodorizing agents to spray towers to reduce sulfide and ammonia concentrations;

Utilizing a low-temperature catalytic oxidation system to oxidize organic sulfides in the gas into odorless compounds.

Mobile or small-scale wastewater treatment equipment:

Small pump stations or decentralized industrial treatment equipment can utilize a combination of activated carbon adsorption, chemical spraying, and ozone generators to achieve flexible deodorization.

4. Factors Affecting the Odor Removal Effect of Wastewater Treatment Equipment

The deodorization effect of wastewater treatment equipment is not fixed and is affected by many factors:

Wastewater quality:

Wastewater with high organic matter concentration, high ammonia nitrogen content, and high sulfide content produces more severe odors and requires a more powerful deodorization system.

Equipment type and configuration:

Advanced wastewater treatment equipment is typically equipped with a multi-stage deodorization system (adsorption, chemical, and biological combination), resulting in significant effects; simpler equipment has limited deodorization capacity.

Operation and management:

Deodorization equipment requires regular replacement of activated carbon, replenishment of chemical agents, or maintenance of the biological filter; otherwise, the deodorization effect will decrease.

Climate and Environmental Conditions

High temperatures and humidity increase the ease with which volatile gases dissipate, making deodorization more difficult.

5. Precautions for Deodorization in Wastewater Treatment Equipment

To ensure the deodorization effect of wastewater treatment equipment, the following precautions should be taken during use and maintenance:

Regular Maintenance and Cleaning

Activated carbon adsorption towers need regular replacement or regeneration;

Biological filters need regular replenishment of microbial nutrients to maintain their activity.

Rational Dosing of Chemical Agents

Oxidizing agents or neutralizing agents should be added rationally according to the wastewater composition to avoid excessive amounts causing secondary pollution.

Gas Collection and Sealing

For high-concentration odorous wastewater, sealed tanks and centralized gas collection via pipelines should be used to prevent odor from spreading to the surrounding environment.

Monitoring and Automated Control

Modern equipment can be equipped with odor monitoring instruments and automatic control systems to achieve real-time deodorization and ensure stable treatment results.

6. Conclusion: High-Efficiency Deodorization, Achieving Environmental Standards Simultaneously

Wastewater treatment equipment can not only treat pollutants such as suspended solids, COD, and ammonia nitrogen in wastewater, but also effectively remove odors. Modern wastewater treatment equipment, through the comprehensive application of physical, chemical, and biological methods, can significantly reduce odorous gases generated during wastewater discharge. However, the deodorization effect is affected by factors such as wastewater quality, equipment type, operation management, and environmental conditions. When selecting and using wastewater treatment equipment, enterprises should rationally configure deodorization solutions based on their actual conditions, combining them with maintenance management to achieve environmental compliance and a good living environment.

Jinhua, as a professional wastewater treatment equipment factory, sells an industrial circulating water filtration system, an advanced solution specifically designed for industrial water reuse applications. This system consists of a rotating filter disc, a backwashing system, and an integrated control and electrical system. Utilizing gravity flow filtration principles, it efficiently removes suspended solids from industrial circulating water, preventing scaling in reclaimed water and effectively solving the problems of excessive wastewater discharge and high fresh water consumption in industrial processes. Furthermore, the system's deodorization function is specifically optimized to address potential odor issues that may arise during the storage and reuse of industrial circulating water. By employing precise wastewater filtration and gas management, combined with an integrated deodorization module, the generation and release of malodorous gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia can be reduced during water circulation, ensuring the entire circulating water system is clean and odorless, providing enterprises with an environmentally friendly, efficient, and comfortable water environment. This comprehensive design not only improves water quality safety and equipment operating efficiency but also meets the dual requirements of modern industry for environmental protection and employee working environment.

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