Plant is nothing to sniff at
15 Jan 2000
Chemviron Carbon has introduced a new system for removing odour at sewage treatment works and similar installations that omit hydrogen sulphide and other unpleasant smells.
The Phoenix system can handle flow rates up to 45 000 m3/hr and several units can be linked in parallel for larger installations. The Phoenix footprint is one fifth of comparable chemical scrubbers.
This is achieved through its patented Centaur catalytic activated carbon system. Previous activated carbon systems using deep bed carbon adsorbers are expensive due to carbon regeneration, labour intensive carbon exchange and the disposal of exhausted carbons.
The Phoenix system works by directing foul air through a series of chambers containing Chemviron's Centaur granular activated carbon. Centaur catalytic carbon does the same job as impregnated carbon but has far more catalytic sites, increasing the reaction speed and hence offering greater adsorption capacity.
The Centaur carbon offers two main benefits: it retains full capacity for organic adsorption, and adsorbed hydrogen sulphide can be washed out with water. Spent Centaur carbon in returnable canisters is simply replaced by canisters containing fresh carbon. No direct contact with carbon is needed and spent carbon is recycled by Chemviron. Phoenix systems consistently remove hydrogen sulphide gas at an efficiency of 99 per cent, at concentration levels less than 50 ppm.
