BIOCONSERVACION S.A.U.– C/ Vapor 12. P.I. El Regàs 08850 Gavà (Barcelona), Spain
Tel: +34 93 662 32 54 | info@bioconservacion.com
Odour prevention in wastewater treatment plants. Case: Cambrils WWTP The Catalan Water Agency (ACA) commissioned a project to minimize the emission of odors from the primary sedimentation tanks of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) of Cambrils (Tarragona), emissions that usually generated complaints from the neighborhood. BION was selected as the candidate to carry out an interesting project that consisted in the treatment of gas phase pollutants (mainly H2S) emitted into the atmosphere. The main source of odors in the primary settling tanks is the area where the clarified water falls to the next stage of treatment through small water jumps. It is at this point that significant amounts of volatile organic and inorganic compounds are released. Bioconservacion suggested covering this area in order to prevent the release of free H2S into the atmosphere. Once this space was confined, two reactors were installed, packed with specific filter media for H2S elimination, namely BION Carb OX (with an adsorption capacity of up to 80% by weight). Both reactors were designed to treat up to 750 m3 / h. Implementation A possible solution in this case is to confine the settler by installing a dome covering the entire tank and connecting the gas phase to media-packed reactors. In this case, a 29 m diameter dome would be needed and the required processing capacity would be 20,000 m3/h. However, by confining only the problematic zone (outer crown) the flow to be treated would decrease to 1,500 m3/h. Obviously, this proposal also represents a much more economically advantageous civil work than a total confinement. In summary, the solution proposed by Bioconservacion represented a 50% saving in the initial investment compared to the usual solutions for this type of facility, and also a significant reduction in subsequent operating costs. In addition, the crown covers were designed in such a way that they could be removed from the perimeter of the sedimentation tank to facilitate maintenance tasks. Removable cover along the perimeter of one of the primary sedimentation tanks This installation was carried out at the end of June 2010, and since then, problems related to nuisance odor emissions have ceased. Since its implementation, Bioconservacion has supplied the filter media and has maintained close contact with the plant's personnel. This collaboration allows us to better understand the real needs of each sector and to develop products that are better adapted to them. Among the projects that the Research and Development Department is working on, there is one that aims to carry out field tests with a new filter media developed specifically for environments with humidity above 99%. Discussions are currently underway with the Cambrils WWTP to carry them out jointly at their facilities.
READ MORE »The presence of microorganisms in wastewater causes a decrease in dissolved oxygen as it is consumed in their metabolism. The greater the number of microorganisms, the greater the biological demand for oxygen. When this demand exceeds that which can be provided by air exchange, then an anaerobic process begins, creating a reducing environment that favors the release of odor-causing compounds in WWTPs: Sulfur derivatives (H2S and mercaptans). nitrogen derivatives (NH3 and amines) Acid derivatives (acetic) Aldehydes, ketones and esters derivatives. This is why it is vital to seek solutions to the problem of bad odors and to implement deodorization treatments. BION and the Besós Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), managed by Aigües de Barcelona, have reached a collaboration agreement to conduct various field tests on new products. The agreement allows BION to use the Besos facilities to conduct tests on new filter media for air deodorization. The Besós WWTP is currently using BION filter media in several of the Side Access type units used to deodorize certain parts of the plant. A first stage is being used with BION carb OX and a second with a Bion+/AC blend (material that will continue to be supplied on a regular basis). In the last year, BION has developed the BION carb ODR filter media, a new carbon-based filter media with a high H2S removal capacity and mechanical properties. Thus, it is proposed to carry out stability tests of the BION carb ODR filter media in an equipment where there are extreme conditions to which the media is to be tested, so we intend to: Validate the BION carb ODR filter media under saturation conditions. Evaluate the critical parameters (operation time, conditions, etc.) that cause the loss of the mechanical properties of the BION carb ODR product. BION's technical personnel will periodically carry out exhaustive monitoring of different variables in order to obtain a good characterization of the installation and to be able to draw the most significant conclusions possible. The variables to be monitored are as follows: Inlet humidity and temperature and between equipment sections. Concentration of total H2S/VOCs at the inlet and outlet of the equipment. Pressure drop in the different stages of the equipment. Inlet flow rate to the equipment. With the results obtained, an exhaustive study will be carried out in order to evaluate if there is a possibility of improving the operation of this type of equipment.
READ MORE »Odor Control in Pesticide Plants: Volatile Elimination Chemical formulation plants are susceptible to emissions of unpleasant volatile compounds and unpleasant odors, which makes it essential to implement effective odor control treatments. Specifically, in the northwest of Spain, there is one of the oldest industrial locations for the manufacture of phytosanitary products in the country, with facilities located relatively close to inhabited areas. Recently, one of the plants, specifically the plant dedicated to the formulation of solid pesticides, underwent a complete modernization and automation of the manufacturing process, applying criteria of maximum safety and minimum human contact. For regulatory and safety reasons, the formulation includes certain volatile compounds with a very unpleasant odor and a very low odor detection limit. In addition, the product, once packaged, must contain a very small amount of fines. That is why the last stage of the process consists of a dust removal fluid bed, which is placed just before the packaging machine. This fluidized bed for the elimination of fines moves a relatively high air flow (6000 Nm3/h), emitting a quantity of unpleasant smelling additives to the outside. As this bed is open to the outside, it causes problems of occupational hygiene in the work environment, and in some cases complaints about unpleasant odors in the neighborhood near the plant. THE SOLUTION Bioconservacion was contacted by the manufacturer of the fluidized bed equipment to find a solution for treating unpleasant odors. Tests were conducted in BION's laboratory, reproducing the operating conditions of the fluidized bed for eliminating fines on a small scale. For this purpose, the end customer, within the agreed confidentiality terms, provided the necessary data and reagents to reproduce the problem. Various BION filter media were tested under these conditions. With the data from the laboratory pilot test, Bioconservacion's engineering department was able to size an integral solution for optimal odor control. The recommended filtration equipment, due to the relatively high flow rate to be treated and the need not to affect the existing process, was a SAH unit (Side Access Modular Filter Unit) with 18 modules. The PP18, V-shaped modules allow for an optimal solution in terms of equipment size, minimum pressure drop and removal efficiency. Moreover, the entire unit is at ground level, with side doors, which allow a quick change and a very safe handling of the used modules. After analyzing the data resulting from the filter media tested in the pilot plant, the recommended filter media to use was BION AC, activated carbon specially designed for the removal of high molecular weight compounds. Once the proposed solution has been implemented, Bioconservacion ensures the correct operation of the filtration equipment and the optimization of the filter media. Periodically, the client obtains representative samples of the different filters and sends them to the BION laboratory to analyze the degree of saturation of the filter media. In this way, BION recommends to the customer to change the filter at the right time, with a prudent time before the saturation of the filter media to avoid odor problems.
READ MORE »The environment in a refinery is highly corrosive, which makes it necessary to implement control systems not only to protect people but also the equipment that controls the processes to ensure their reliability. Bioconservacion has equipment specially designed for the safety of people, to protect against corrosion in control rooms and cabinet pressurization equipment. Some CEPSA refineries in Spain have installed some of this equipment. Specifically, the CEPSA Gibraltar San Roque refinery in Cadiz was equipped with a packed bed system for personal safety, specifically a Packed Bed System (PBS). The packed bed system includes the following filters: - G4 particulate filter, this is a pre-filter that collects dust and traps larger particles, protecting grids and granulates. - Vertical beds, the air passes through the holes in the perforated plate and passes through the BION filter media, which are determined according to the pollutants to be treated. The filling of these vertical beds is a relatively simple job. No tools or highly skilled specialists are required. - Final particulate filter type F7, this is a higher efficiency filter for particulate removal. The equipment has to protect a room of 155 cubic meters where, if necessary, seven to nine people would be accommodated for a time of 20 to 30 minutes. This time should be achieved with two different contamination scenarios: - Scenario 1, 10280.00 mg/m3 SH2 80%+various hydrocarbons 20%. - Scenario 2, 10900.00 mg/m3 HF. The CEPSA Tenerife refinery has installed a UPP (Positive Pressurization Unit) where part of the outside air is taken, cleaned and pressurized in a control room of about 60 square meters. Additionally, a part of the air is used to re-circulate and clean the air from possible indoor contaminants and door openings. It is designed to provide positive pressurization with air free of corrosive gases in environments containing computers, control rooms, motor control centers and electronic or electrical equipment. There are two types of configurations: horizontal and vertical. However, the equipment is tailor-made according to the customer's particular needs and desired specification. There are different filter media to remove various types of gases. The most common are: hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, chlorine compounds and ammonia. In the refinery there is a set of transformers that switch from 220 to 110 v. The electrical cabinet pressurization equipment installed there must meet two requirements: it must be sufficiently ventilated so that the equipment does not heat up and the air introduced into it must be cleaned. Bioconservacion has a fully equipped laboratory to ensure good corrosion control. By analyzing coupons, corrosive agents are characterized and the aggressiveness of the environment is classified according to the ISA 71.04 standard. The laboratory is also capable of measuring the remaining life of filter media, a service it offers to its customers to ensure timely replacement of media.
READ MORE »Controlling odor emissions at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is a priority objective for management entities, in order to ensure the well-being of workers and minimize the impact these facilities have on the environment. Bioconservacion has the solution to treat the emission of odor-causing gases, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and improving the quality of life of workers and neighbors. In this article, we will present a real and successful experience in Poland, specifically at the Poznań wastewater treatment plant, where BION air filtration systems have been implemented. Project context. At the end of 2014, the Poznan wastewater treatment plant (PolandI) completed a project to modernize its facilities, renovating and expanding the existing plant to be able to reach a treatment capacity of an average flow of 250,000 m3/day, in compliance with European and national regulations. Thanks to this project, wastewater treatment coverage is expected to reach 99.6% by 2020, reducing wastewater discharge to the Warta River by 33,000 m3/day. Moreover, the modernization will allow the reuse of almost 100% of the sludge. This will be possible thanks to the application of this sludge as landfill cover and/or as raw material for bio-fuel production. In addition, the project contemplated investments for the reduction of odor emissions, significantly improving the living conditions around the plant in order to restore the attractiveness of this area. Odor control The total air flow is 48,000 m3/h. After a first treatment by a Biotrickling phase, the air flow is divided into four 12,000 m3/h sub-lines. The air flow of each of these sub-lines is passed through a double bed adsorption scrubber, where each bed is purifying 6,000 m3/h. The filter media recommended by Bioconservacion for this project: A specific mixture of BION Carb OX and BION KOH, for H2S and mercaptans removal. BION ACPA for the removal of NH3 BION Active Max for the removal of VOC's Schematic diagram of the odor treatment plant
READ MORE »Corrosion is the natural process in which metals degrade. This process is influenced by external factors such as humidity, temperature and corrosive gases, mainly active sulfur compounds, sulfide oxides and nitrogen oxides (H2S, SO2, SO3, NOx). In pumping stations and sewage treatment plants these factors are present, even in very low concentrations (parts per billion), and are the cause of technical and operational failures due to degradation of electrical components. In order to prevent corrosion-sensitive electrical or electronic equipment from suffering, it is important to take preventive measures. The solution is to perform a good prior analysis of the environment in corrosion-sensitive areas, install specific air filtration equipment with the appropriate media. CORROSION COUPONS + BION FILTER MEDIA + SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT = EFFICIENT SOLUTION AGAINST CORROSION To detect and act reliably against corrosion, BION has an action protocol. The process starts by sending and placing corrosion coupons in the rooms or environments susceptible to corrosion. After 30 days of exposure, the coupons are sent to the laboratory, where an exhaustive analysis of the gases that have been in contact and their concentration is carried out, determining the level of corrosion present in the environment. Our laboratory is equipped with the necessary technology to investigate and analyze all types of gases derived from the wastewater treatment activity. BION's team of chemists and engineers determines the best solution for each case. Usually the solution involves the installation of an air filtration equipment with an average according to the results obtained with the coupon. In this way, carrying out a correct preventive action can fight against the invisible enemy that is corrosion and avoid the appearance of its adverse effects in installations, piping, data centers and vulnerable electronic components among other elements. For more information about corrosion please visit: https://www.bioconservacion.com/corrosion-control
READ MORE »BION has successfully carried out the elimination of toxic and corrosive gases, we are referring to H2S and Ammonia, from the hazardous waste blending and neutralization project that the company Hidronor, Gestión y Tratamiento de Residuos, carries out in the town of Noviciado near the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago de Chile. Its work process generates an important emission of gases from storage tanks and in blending and neutralization processes, acid and basic. Hidronor, specialized in the neutralization and final disposal of hazardous waste that by law cannot be disposed in sanitary landfills (place where only organic waste must arrive), entrusted BION with the job of eliminating the hazardous waste neutralization process, which until then generated approximately 200 ppm of hydrogen sulfide gas and 50 ppm of ammonia. For this purpose, BION, after receiving information about the emissions and the quality of its facilities, used a deep bed with 3 different chemical media, BION Oxyl, BION Ac Active Max and BION ACPA, specific for the elimination of the aforementioned gases and with which the generation of gases, caused by the process, are totally controlled for up to 6 months of continuous operation. Regulations in the chemical or process industries Santiago de Chile was declared a couple of years ago as a contamination saturated zone, so filtering products must be of high quality. Hidronor and other chemical or process industries are controlled with strict environmental standards that must be met, or they could be shut down. That is why after being installed our chemical media Hidronor becomes one of those companies that satisfactorily comply with these regulations. Technical specifications and results of the emissions neutralization project at the Hazardous Waste Neutralization Plant. Solution Delivered BION Oxyl | Acid Gases BION Ac Active Max | Voc's BION ACPA - Basic Ammonia Gases Container Unit Basic Acid Scrubber and Dry Scrubber for 1800 Kilos built by Subsole Servicios Ltda. In 2015, to remove up to 3500ppm H2S. Issuance result Between 0 and 2 ppm for 6 months.
READ MORE »Emergency equipment for chlorine adsorption in Hospitals Chlorine is a strong oxidant that under normal conditions and in its pure state forms dichlorine, a yellow-greenish toxic gas formed by diatomic molecules (Cl2) about 2.5 times heavier than air, with an unpleasant and toxic odor. Among its many applications and due to its strong oxidizing character, it stands out especially for being a compound widely used in water purification in WWTPs (wastewater treatment plants) and as a disinfectant in other applications. In WWTPs, instead of treating water directly with chlorine gas, hypochlorite solutions are used, which gradually release chlorine into the water and are capable of eliminating bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. However, in other sectors such as hospitals, chlorine is usually stored in liquefied gas cylinders where a leak could generate dangerous environments and are therefore confined in containment rooms with safety systems. The disadvantage of using chlorine in this format lies in the necessary storage and transport conditions. The high toxicity of the gas, which causes damage at levels of 0.1 ppm in the air, makes it necessary to handle this product only with special equipment, with rescue and contingency programs duly established by trained personnel. Main Chlorine elimination technologies; pros and cons: Among the most common chlorine removal systems are adsorbents (dry media) and chemical scrubbers (wet scrubbers). Classical adsorbents have several advantages over chemical scrubbers, chemical scrubbers require significantly more intensive maintenance than adsorbents. The instrumentation of scrubbers, consisting of pumps, nozzles and valves, is more complex. All this leads to greater risks in terms of operation. Another aspect that penalizes chemical scrubbers is directly related to the use of caustic liquids that generate a liquid effluent that requires post-treatment. Adsorbents, on the other hand, eliminate the contaminant permanently, transforming it into harmless substances. Depending on the operating conditions, the spent adsorbent can even be used as fertilizer. Finally, another great advantage of adsorbents over chemical scrubbers is the fact that they are a solution capable of maintaining efficiencies above 99.9% regardless of the load fed to the reactor. All these advantages are leading the market to choose adsorbents as a more effective solution, both technically and economically, over chemical scrubbers. BION Clear Bioconservacion has developed a specific filter media to eliminate chlorine and acid vapors. BION Clear is a clay impregnated with sodium thiosulfate capable of achieving chlorine removal capacities of up to 9% w/w. The reaction mechanism of BION Clear removes chlorine through the processes of adsorption, absorption and chemisorption. The chlorine is transformed into harmless solid substances that are irreversibly trapped in the pellet. This media is specially designed for use in applications where significant concentrations of chlorine may be released such as the pulp and paper manufacturing industry, wastewater/urban disinfection or fumes from laser cutting PVC. Case study: Hospital in Peru In 2013, BION, together with its distributor in Peru, Requinor, carried out a project consisting of the implementation of a chlorine safety equipment in a hospital in Peru Schematic of a chlorine adsorption safety system designed by Bioconservacion In this hospital, the chlorine cylinders are confined in a room of a certain volume and, following the American standard Uniform Fire Code Article 63 (NFPA 1, 2006), an equipment packaged with BiON Clear was designed. Depending on the standard followed in the design of the safety system, the equipment will have different dimensions. The conceptual basis of the standard is to design equipment capable of adsorbing a volume of chlorine gas emitted by a rupture in a chlorine cylinder. In this way, the safety system must be capable of aspirating a certain flow of gas to produce a depression in the room and be efficient in adsorbing the chlorine. Bioconservacion designed equipment with the following characteristics: Reactor made of fiberglass reinforced polyester. Klopper-shaped roof. Access railing. Reactor height: 2950 mm. Outer diameter: 1500 mm. With this equipment it was possible to ensure a chlorine removal efficiency of more than 99.9%, ensuring an output below 50 ppbv at all times. In addition to the reactor with the chemical media, Bioconservacion/Requinor designed the piping and the high-pressure centrifugal fan for the safety system. As is customary in our company, there continues to be collaboration with Requinor in terms of data exchange, advice, incident resolution, etc., which allows us to strengthen ties and work together on future projects.
READ MORE »The Wastewater Treatment Plant (ETAR) do Norte is one of the largest in the central region of Portugal, serving several municipalities. The infrastructure is located in the area of Coimbra, Leiria, occupying 6 hectares of land; it receives effluents from about 250,000 inhabitants of several municipalities. It has the capacity to treat some 38,000 m3 of wastewater daily, of which 77% is domestic, 18% from industry and 5% is other effluents. The biogas resulting from treatment is used as fuel for a cogeneration plant, where energy recovery is maximized through combined heat and power production. The thermal energy is used to heat the sludge digesters, the building and the domestic hot water. The electrical energy produced, which can reach an output of 1.2 MW, is sold to the national power grid. Biogas Desulfurization Iron filings, one of the most widely used traditional methods, were used to reuse biogas for energy recovery. However, high construction costs and low efficiency led Simlis to look for other technologies to improve its process. As an alternative, BION together with its distributor in Portugal, Equifluxo, proposed the use of BION Fe, a filter media regenerable with ambient air, capable of reaching a H2S removal capacity of up to 45% w/w. The use of this media would provide the following advantages over iron filings: Save adding an iron chloride solution as a step prior to desulfurization. Reduce the number of media changes due to its high desulfurization capacity (45% w/w of BION Fe versus 12% w/w of iron filings). Achieve higher efficiencies. Reduce energy consumption due to the low pressure drop values generated. Depending on the final composition of the spent product and the regulations of each country, BION Fe could even be recoverable. On the other hand, the removal of water from the biogas, besides serving to promote the optimal operation of BiON Fe, has other advantages. The drying of the gas allows optimizing the combustion process in the cogeneration engine, reaching values between 2 and 5% more energy generation; it increases the efficiency of the engine and reduces the gas/fuel consumption; it allows reducing the contamination of the engine oil with the condensate, extending the life time of the oil from 400-500 hours to 2000-3000 hours. Finally, in the case of treating biogas with siloxanes, this dehumidification stage will help to slightly reduce the concentration of some of these recalcitrant compounds. Bioconservacion Solution BION designed a reactor for biogas treatment with the following characteristics: Flow rate: 25 m3/h Temperature range: 35-40 ºC Relative humidity: 95-99 %. Composition: CH4 66 %, CO2 30 %, H2S 2500 ppm To carry out biogas desulfurization, Bioconservacion/Equifluxo designed a very versatile unit with a double fiberglass wall to reduce the effects of condensation, with a plenum that avoids the generation of preferential paths and therefore the use of the entire medium, as well as the generation of high pressure drop values. Over a period of 12 months, Bioconservacion/Equifluxo carried out exhaustive monitoring of the equipment's results, with technical visits every 45 days for the first 3 months and every 3 months thereafter. The results obtained were very positive, reaching efficiencies of over 99%, allowing full use of the energetic power of biogas (Figure 2). Evolution of H2S concentration at the reactor inlet/outlet over time.
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