Waste and wastewater management

Activated carbon filtration is a highly effective solution for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odours that are common in air emissions from landfill sites, recycling facilities, scrapyards, shredders, municipal waste facilities and other waste management sites. These pollutants are generated by processes including: the collecting, sorting, and storing of waste; composting of green waste; and recycling of plastics, metals and batteries. As well as often being smelly, VOCs pose risks to occupational health and the environment.

DESOTEC’s mobile activated carbon filtration solutions reduce VOCs and other odorous molecules, keeping air quality high and fresh-smelling. Our filtration set-ups are modular, flexible and adaptable, allowing for changes in parameters or legislation. 

Water from waste management facilities may contain a range of compounds that can be treated by activated carbon filtration. Rinsing water from the preparation of plastics for recycling or the cleaning of storage tanks and production facilities is likely to contain adsorbable organic halides (AOX) and other components, measured together as chemical oxygen demand (COD). Leachate waters and rainfall run-off from scrapyard and landfill sites could contain hydrocarbons from fridge coolants, oil components, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and COD. 

DESOTEC filters remove all these components so your wastewater is clean enough to be sent to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) or discharged to the environment.

Activated carbon can be used at WWTPs in three key ways: to purify air emissions of odours; to pre-treat water for the protection of biofilters; or as a polishing step. 

1. Air treatment: activated carbon air filters are used to remove odorous molecules such as mercaptans, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and ammonia (NH₃), keeping the air smelling fresh for site workers and nearby residents. 
2. Water pre-treatment: activated carbon water filters are placed upstream to bring down high levels of COD or AOX, which would otherwise kill off the bacteria in WWTP biofilters. 
3. Water polishing: activated carbon waters filters are placed downstream, reducing especially harmful contaminants to very low levels so the water is ready for discharge.

If your waste management company produces biogas, e.g. at a landfill site, you need reliable purification solutions in place such as activated carbon filtration. DESOTEC filters remove the abrasive siloxanes and corrosive H₂S generated by green waste, protecting downstream equipment such as combined heat and power (CHP) machines from damage. 

Where membranes are used to upgrade biogas into biomethane, DESOTEC filters may be placed upstream to protect them from siloxanes and other components, such as NH₃. Where scrubbers or bioscrubbers are used, DESOTEC filters may be placed downstream as a polishing step to remove H₂S and VOCs. 

Activated carbon filtration is a Best Available Technology (BAT) for many pollution treatment applications, and is often the most cost-effective and sustainable option – but it does depend on various factors.

For example:

• Where air flow is discontinuous, activated carbon is generally more cost-effective than alternatives such as thermal oxidisers (RTOs).
• If space is tight, DESOTEC filters have a smaller footprint than most alternatives.
• For short-term usage, our filters are mobile and rental – unlike more permanent installations such as RTOs or high-investment systems such as membranes or scrubbers.
• If treatment is needed immediately, our filters can be delivered fast and are plug-and-play – some alternatives have a lengthy lead-in time.
• If your needs might change in the future, our systems are modular – other technology might be less adaptable.
• If flow rates, concentrations and compounds are changeable, activated carbon is generally more versatile than alternatives. 

DESOTEC is keen to help customers find the best treatment for their needs, so if our experts think another technology might be more suitable than activated carbon, they will let you know.

Activated carbon is a very versatile technology, so there are many ways to optimise set-ups – e.g. placing filters in series, using different carbon grades, or combining filters with complementary technology such as scrubbers.

DESOTEC solutions offer a low total cost of ownership (TCO): they have minimal Capex costs, and include maintenance, upgrading, and ongoing support and expertise. Furthermore, sustainable carbon waste handling is included in DESOTEC’s service. In most cases, we can reactivate the carbon for reuse, cutting costs and boosting sustainability.