ODOUR REMOVAL FROM WASTE COMPOSTING FACILITY USING PILOT-

SCALE FIXED BED BIOFILTERS - 2010

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre (EBCRC) in conjunction with Murdoch
University initiated extensive research in odour management utilising fixed bed biofiltration. Odour is a major
problem faced by many industries including livestock, poultry, bioprocessing and secondary waste processing.
Biofilters are effective in removing odours, but filters deteriorate, necessitating overdesign and regular
replacement.
From successful lab results field-testing was established at the Southern Regional Metropolitan Council’s (SMRC)
Regional Resource Recovery Centre (RRRC).
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Waste Composting Facility (WCF) of the RRRC processes over 80,000 tonnes of household waste from the
green-topped bins per annum, which is converted to compost. The waste is sorted on the tipping floor to separate
organic and non-organic material. Organic waste is then processed through one of four biodigesters. Inside the
digesters are natural bacteria that start the composting process and generate heat to around 60°C, which destroys
any harmful substances and sterilises the material. After screening the immature
compost is then spread in the aeration building, in which the conditions are kept
humid so the composting bacteria are at the most active and effective. The compost
is regularly aerated, turned and watered, to speed up the compositing process. The
finished compost is then used as a horticultural nutrition additive or potting mix
additive.
At each stage of the handling and processing odour is Through the RRRC and Climate
ventilated from the enclosed buildings through a series Wise, the SMRC has prevented
of biofilters to abate the odour. There are four biofilters a total of 148,591 tonnes of
that are traditional “in-bed” designed system using bark carbon dioxide equivalents
(TCO2-e) from entering the
as the filter media. The SMRC have not been satisfied
atmosphere, for the period July
with the levels of odour reduction and the impact on 2007 to May 2008.
nearby residents. They have made a number of This is equivalent to the annual
modifications to the biofilter operation, replaced the greenhouse gas emissions of
media, used various media mixes and increased media approximately 42,000 cars.
volume. They sponsor of the EBCRC and aim to seek  
technology that will improve the biofilter performance at the WCF.
Bioaction Pty Ltd (BPL) has developed innovative biofilter designs utilising a
unique organic/mineral filtration media. Their innovation is small footprint, low
energy, and minimal maintenance biofilter using a homogenous media with surface
area, moisture retention, and porosity characteristics suitable for biofiltration. It is a
highly robust media that resists mechanical and biological degradation.
EBCRC sought the involvement of BPL to provide expertise in biofilter design as well as recognising the potential
of their filter media.
EBCRC in conjunction with Murdoch University and BPL, commissioned test biofilters at the RRRC site to test
biofilter design concept and validate the performance of various media profiles and microbial performance.

PILOT-SCALE FIXED BED BIOFILTER TESTING

Four pilot-scale biofilters with different media profiles using blends of organic/ mineral blends were located at the
corner of existing aeration floor biofilter (Figure 1). Two of the test filters were inoculated using an inoculum from
the SMRC existing filter bed. Feed for the four pilot-scale biofilters came directly from the main airflow into the
existing biofilter. This odorous air stream was then passed through a divider separating the air stream into 4 sub-
streams feeding into the four pilot-scale biofilters (Figure 2). To ensure that all 4 pilot-scale biofilters were fed at
the same rate, flow meters were installed for individual sub-streams measurement.

Figure  1  -­‐  SMRC  Waste  Composting  Facility   Figure  2  -­‐  Test  Biofilters  located  at  the  inflow  plenum  

CASE STUDY – ODOUR REMOVAL WCF

QUANTIFICATION OF ODOUR REMOVAL EFFICIENCY

Two methods of evaluation were employed;

1. Sensory concentration measurements were taken from the inlet and outlet of the test biofilters using
olfactometer to determine the change of odour strength. The odour concentration measurements were
performed using dynamic olfactometry according to the Australian Standard ‘Determination of Odour
Concentration by Dynamic Olfactometry AS/NZS4323.3: 2001.

Odour concentration - odour

Sample units (OU) % Odour removal Odour character

Inflow feed 10,090 N/A Yoghurt-lactic acid/garbage fruity

Biofilter 1 197 98.0% Light citrus/earthy/slightly foul

Biofilter 2 239 97.6% Earthy/slightly piney

Biofilter 3 69 99.3% Earthy/dirt/wet

Biofilter 4 256 97.5% Light citrus/earthy/slightly foul

2. Analytical measurement using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) to determine the

removal of specific volatile compounds in the air stream. Air samples of one inlet and 4 outlets from the
four pilot-scale biofilters were taken using Silco air sampling canisters and immediately sent to the
Chemistry Centre of Western Australia for identification and quantification of volatile organic
compounds (VOC) and volatile organosulphur compounds (VOSC) as per protocols outlined in US EPA
TO-14A.

Input Reactor 1 Reactor 2 Reactor 3 Reactor 4

COMPOUND ppb(V) ppb(V) ppb(V) ppb(V) ppb(V)

Benzene 6.6 5.2 4.7 2.3 3.3

Benzene, 1,2,4-trimethyl 130 150 91 38 79

Benzene, 1,3,5-trimethyl 35 51 25 16 22

Benzene, 1,3-dichloro 15 8.2 13 8.1 9.9

Benzene, ethyl 17 11 6.4 4.1 9.2

Chloroform 1.6 1.5 1.5 < 1.2 < 1.2

Ethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloro < 2.3 9.3 < 2.3 < 2.3 < 2.3

Ethane, 1,2-dichloro 2.1 2.3 2.7 1.3 1.5

Ethene, 1,1-dichloro-, (E) 10 3.4 8.2 3.5 5.8

Methane, dichlorodifluoro 2.7 3.4 3 1.9 1.4

Methane, trichloromonofluoro 3 2.4 1.9 1.6 1.4

Methylene chloride 1.8 2.5 2.3 < 1.2 < 1.2

Styrene 33 7.9 6.3 < 5.8 7.5

Toluene 68 24 38 8.9 7.7

Xylene, m- & p- 72 64 40 30 35

Xylene, o- 32 28 22 13 17

SUMMARY

Based on the two evaluation methods used (olfactometer and GC/MS) in this study, it is clear that biofilters using
an organic/mineral media can significantly remove odour from composting facility waste air stream. It however
should be noted that this evaluation was the first of a series of evaluations, where we evaluated the efficiency
during start-up period only. It is anticipated that during this period physical and chemical adsorption properties of
the media blends still played significant role in odourous compounds removal. This is evident by the significantly
higher non-polar monoterpenes removal by reactors using organic (hydrophobic) than the reactor using exclusively
mineral (hydrophilic) media. Long-term sustainability of odour removal is however based on the microbial
communities on filter media surface to degrade the adsorbed compounds and subsequently regenerate the filter
media.
 

CASE STUDY – ODOUR REMOVAL WCF