MÓnashell® Biofiltration Odor Control System Installed At T.z. Osborne Water Reclamation

Aug. 24, 2009 - PRLog -- Bord na Móna Environmental Products U.S. Inc. today announced that the first United States installation of its new generation MÓNASHELL® Biological odor control treatment system has been completed at the T.Z. Osborne Water Reclamation Facility in Greensboro, North Carolina.  The facility is part of the greater Greensboro, North Carolina Water Resources Department.

“The MÓNASHELL system was installed at T.Z. Osborne in early March,” reported Bord na Mona Environmental Products U.S. Inc. President Shane Keaney,  “and it is achieving the expected high performance results across the range of odor compounds in line with our experience on more than 500 Bord na Mona odor control systems installed throughout the world.  We wanted to showcase the performance of our MÓNASHELL odor control unit in being able to achieve very high removal rates on both high H2S levels, up to 500 ppm on this sludge holding tank facility and across the full range of organic compound loadings. While biofilters are good at removing odor compounds at low H2S levels and biotrickling filters can treat high H2S levels, but are limited in removal of organic compounds, the MÓNASHELL is an enhanced biotrickling filter that combines the treatment capabilities of both systems. The installation is on a live site and we would like to thank Wally Kling and his entire operations team at T.Z. Osborne for all of their assistance in installing the system.”

Amplifying on Keaney’s comments, Wally Kling, Operations Superintendent of the T.Z. Osborne Water Reclamation Facility, noted that, “I am very impressed both by the underlying technology and the performance reliability demonstrated thus far by this remarkable odor control treatment solution.  The incorporation of a waste product, seashells, as media makes this solution a win-win for the community and the environment.”

According to Brendan Naples, Odor Product Manager at Bord na Mona, odor emitted from wastewater treatment processes is increasingly a concern as populations grow and housing encroaches upon once-remote treatment facilities.  “Odor is more than unpleasant.  It derives from sulfurous compounds that can raise acidity and cause corrosion. The MÓNASHELL Biofiltration System is a sustainable, low maintenance and low operating cost alternative to traditional carbon or chemical scrubbing. The reuse of waste shells as media maintains a neutral pH, allowing for highly effective biological treatment of odorous sulfur compounds in wastewater and industrial airstreams without the use of chemicals.”

Indeed, according to Naples, the system installed at the T.Z Osborne Water Reclamation Facility is treating 500 cfm of air containing very high concentrations of Organic Sulfides and H2S.  “The MÓNASHELL system is  eliminating in excess of 99% of H2S, up to 99% of organic sulphides and in excess of 96% reduction on odor analysis using both ASTM E679 & EN13725 standards and it is doing so without chemical or nutrient additives, which is both better for the environment and keeps the operating costs lower.”

The MÓNASHELL system is designed to deliver significant, environmentally responsible benefits for wastewater pumping stations, wastewater treatment works, sludge-handling, municipal solid waste and composting centers, as well as various industrial facilities requiring odor & VOC removal.  

The waste airstream is treated biologically in the liquid phase through re-circulating water within the MÓNASHELL unit, allowing contact between selected micro-organisms and odorous compounds. The bacteria reside on the shell media, which contains high levels of CaCO3 and neutralizes acid byproducts of sulfide oxidation. The physical, structural and chemical properties of the media allow for smaller filters and higher efficiencies. The by-products of the system are harmless, clean and odor-free.

Headquartered in Dublin Ireland, Bord na Móna is a multi-national $550-million full line provider of products and services in the environmental, energy, fuels, and horticulture markets.  The company’s state-of-the-art, environmentally responsible wastewater, water reuse and air pollution treatment solutions deliver significant environmental benefits for homeowners, communities, and municipalities.  The company is dedicated to forging a new contract with nature through the development of innovative solutions focused on water conservation, re-use, material recycling, and energy and chemical reduction.  Bord na Móna Environmental Products U.S. Inc. (www.bnm-us.com) is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina.

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Bord na Mona provides odor biofiltration, wastewater and water reuse solutions for municipal & residential applications including membranes, MBBR, SAF, peat biofilters and rainwater harvesting.