Odorous Compounds in Municipal Wastewater Effluent and Potable Water Reuse Systems

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 45; no. 21; pp. 9347 - 9355
• Main Authors: Agus, Eva, Lim, Mong Hoo, Zhang, Lifeng, Sedlak, David L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01-11-2011
• Subjects: Anisoles - chemistry; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Benzaldehydes - chemistry; Charcoal - chemistry; Chemical compounds; Dispersed sources and other; Drinking water; Effluents; Environmental science; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrogen Peroxide - chemistry; Naphthols - chemistry; Odorants; Odors; Oxidation; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pyrrolidinones - chemistry; Remediation and Control Technologies; Ultraviolet Rays; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water reuse; Water treatment; Drinking water treatment; Chemical analysis; Ether; Water resource management; Organic chlorine compounds; Sustainable development; Sewage treatment plant; Terpene; Microbial origin; Geosmin; Cyanobacteria; Bacteria; Air pollution; Qualitative analysis; Aromatic compound; Naphthol derivatives; Urban waste water; Recycling; Odor; Effluent; Organic compounds; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es202594z

The presence of effluent-derived compounds with low odor thresholds can compromise the aesthetics of drinking water. The potent odorants 2,4,6-trichloroanisole and geosmin dominated the profile of odorous compounds in wastewater effluent with concentrations up to 2 orders of magnitude above their threshold values. Additional odorous compounds (e.g., vanillin, methylnaphthalenes, 2-pyrrolidone) also were identified in wastewater effluent by gas chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry and olfactometry detection. Full-scale advanced treatment plants equipped with reverse osmosis membranes decreased odorant concentrations considerably, but several compounds were still present at concentrations above their odor thresholds after treatment. Other advanced treatment processes, including ozonation followed by biological activated carbon and UV/H2O2 also removed effluent-derived odorants. However, no single treatment technology alone was able to reduce all odorant concentrations below their odor threshold values. To avoid the presence of odorous compounds in drinking water derived from wastewater effluent, it is necessary to apply multiple barriers during advanced treatment or to dilute wastewater effluent with water from other sources.