Odor control scrubber
OwnerKenneth J. Coreyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A counterflow scrubbing system for deodorizing air having sulfur components such as H2S typically associated with wastewater treatment includes a tower vessel having sulfer-oxidizing microorganisms in porous rock media, and operates at a pH preferably between 1.5 and 4.0 The media has a high ratio of surface area to volume, being at least 1000 and preferably approximately 10,000. The system can operate continuously without requiring objectionable chemicals, relaying of filter beds, or back-flushing. Optionally, concentrations of nutrients and/or bacteria are added to make-up water from an included reservoir.
Claims43
A gas-liquid scrubber system for removing contaminants including hydrogen sulfide from an incoming gas stream also containing oxygen, the system comprising:
- (a) a tower vessel having a gas inlet for receiving the gas stream and an exhaust outlet, a perforate media support structure located between the gas inlet and the gas outlet for supporting porous media with the gas stream passing therethrough, and a sump for collecting liquid falling below the media support structure;
- (b) a liquid recirculation system having a pump fluid connected to the sump, a nozzle in the tower vessel, and a conduit connected between the pump and the nozzle for spraying the media with the liquid when the media is supported on the media support structure and a quantity of the liquid is present in the sump, the liquid also passing through the media to the sump;
- (c) means for populating the media with sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms;
- and
- (d) means for maintaining a pH of the recirculating liquid between a low limit and a high limit, the low limit being not less than 1.0, the high limit being not greater than 5.0.
A process for removing contaminants including hydrogen sulfide from an incoming gas stream also containing oxygen, the process comprising:
- (a) providing a porous media;
- (b) populating the media with sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms;
- (c) recirculating a liquid through the porous media;
- (d) passing the gas stream through the porous media, to permit the microorganisms to oxidize the hydrogen sulfide to produce sulfuric acid;
- and
- (e) maintaining a pH of the recirculating liquid between a low limit and a high limit, the low limit being not less than 1.0, the high limit being not greater than 5.0,
- thereby removing the hydrogen sulfide from the gas stream.
A process for removing contaminants including hydrogen sulfide from an incoming gas stream also containing oxygen, the process comprising:
- (a) providing a porous media having a surface area of greater than 1000 times a corresponding cubic dimension of the media;
- (b) populating the media with sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms;
- (c) recirculating a liquid through the porous media;
- and
- (d) passing the gas stream through the porous media, to permit the microorganisms to oxidize the hydrogen sulfide to produce sulfuric acid,
- thereby removing the hydrogen sulfide from the gas stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.