Investigation of Regenerative Thermal Oxidation for Control of Pulp Mill VOC Emissions and Sludge Dryer Odor, 1997 Pulping Conference Proceedings

Two challenges facing Procter & Gamble’s ammonia based, sulfite mill at Mehoopany, Pennsylvania are control of odor and preparation for the proposed MACT emissions standards. The site’s location in a river valley, combined with meteorological factors, have esulted in community odor issues. The predominant sources of odor have been traced to pulp mill and sludge dryer exhausts. Several technologies were investigated for odor control including biological treatment, wet oxidative scrubbing, and thermal oxidation. Regenerative Thermal Oxidation (RTO) was selected due to its high VOC destruction efficiency and ability to process high moisture and high temperature feeds.

Four issues faced the project team: 1) Would the RTO be capable of eliminating sludge dryer odor? 2) Would the RTO demonstrate satisfactory VOC destruction? 3) How would the RTO’s ceramic media react to salts and particulate entrained in the feed streams? 4) What materials of construction would be required? To answer these questions a 3 month pilot study was planned using a 2 chamber, 17,000 liter per minute RTO. The study concluded that RTO is an effective technology for the control of sludge dryer odor and VOC emissions. Sudden and irreversible media build up due to salts and particulate will not be an issue with the technology. Stainless steel was found to be a suitable material of construction.