Jun 08,2026
1. Why Odor Control Is Required for Sewage Treatment
Malodorous gases produced in sewage treatment, including hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and ammonia (NH₃), are detrimental to human health and cause corrosion to equipment. They also trigger public complaints and lead to violations of environmental regulations. Therefore, effective odor control is essential to guarantee environmental quality, maintain social harmony and ensure compliant operation.
2. Why Pellet Activated Carbon Is Widely Used in Sewage Treatment
Pellet activated carbon is extensively applied for odor control in sewage treatment for the following reasons:
3. Major Odorous Substances to Be Removed from Urban Sewage
The main malodorous compounds generated during urban sewage treatment are listed as follows:
Odors are mainly emitted from pre-treatment, sludge treatment and anaerobic stages of biological treatment. Pellet activated carbon is generally installed in the treatment units of odor collection systems, such as biofilters and adsorption towers.
Urban sewage treatment consists of multiple stages, including pre-treatment, primary treatment, biological treatment and sludge treatment. Odors are mainly produced in pre-treatment, anaerobic biological treatment and sludge treatment units, where pellet activated carbon is incorporated into the odor collection and treatment systems.
Most modern sewage treatment plants are equipped with complete odor collection and centralized treatment systems. Malodorous gases from all processing units are collected uniformly via hoods and pipelines, then delivered to facilities like activated carbon adsorption towers and biofilters. Relying on the physical adsorption of pellet activated carbon, malodorous molecules are trapped and removed. The treated gas that meets emission standards is released at high altitudes, realizing closed-loop odor management.
Pellet activated carbon from Yihang boasts prominent strengths in sewage odor control:
Practical applications prove that Yihang pellet activated carbon adsorption systems can reduce the concentration of malodorous substances by over 90%, whether for conventional domestic sewage near residential areas or mixed sewage with complex components. It effectively eliminates odors and lowers overall operational costs.
|
Item |
Typical Value |
|
Product Type |
Coal-based pellet activated carbon |
|
Pellet Diameter |
3-5mm ,4mm |
|
Iodine Value |
850-1050mg/g |
|
BET Surface Area |
1000-1200 m²/g |
|
Bulk Density |
450-550 kg/m³ |
|
Compressive Strength |
>98% |
|
Moisture Content |
≤5% |
|
Ash Content |
≤10% |
|
Operating Temperature |
≤50°C |
|
Application |
Removal H₂S, NH₃, VOCs, mercaptans, and other malodorous substances |
Contact an Activated Carbon Manufacturer
8.1 Conventional pellet activated carbon is applicable for working conditions with low-concentration and regular odors. For scenarios with high hydrogen sulfide content and severe odor pollution, impregnated pellet activated carbon is recommended. It combines chemical and physical adsorption to greatly boost the removal effect of sulfur-containing odors. Product selection shall be determined comprehensively based on parameters such as odor flow rate, equipment volume, purification standards and pollutant concentration of the project.
8.2 Reasonably control the superficial air velocity and bed height of activated carbon. Excessively high air velocity results in insufficient adsorption, while overly low velocity reduces treatment efficiency. In addition, pre-treatment devices such as filters and water removers shall be installed to intercept dust and moisture in odors, preventing the activated carbon bed from dampening, clogging and caking, which would impair adsorption performance.
8.3 Regularly monitor the gas concentration at the inlet and outlet of adsorption towers as well as equipment pressure drop during daily operation. When the outlet odor concentration exceeds the standard or the pressure drop rises abnormally, the activated carbon is nearly saturated and needs timely replacement or regeneration. Meanwhile, inspect equipment tightness regularly to avoid odor leakage.
As an effective solution for odor control in urban sewage treatment, pellet activated carbon has become one of the mainstream technologies for malodor abatement at sewage treatment plants, thanks to its high adsorption efficiency, stable physical and chemical properties and favorable cost performance.
Tailored for municipal sewage treatment, Yihang’s special pellet activated carbon adopts optimized pore structure and surface modification, delivering excellent malodor removal capacity amid complex operating conditions.
The future development trends include developing functional activated carbon targeting specific malodorous components, exploring combined processes of activated carbon with other technologies such as photocatalysis and low-temperature plasma, and improving the regeneration rate of activated carbon to further cut costs.
With scientific design, proper product selection and standard operation, pellet activated carbon adsorption technology can address odor issues in urban sewage treatment in an economical and efficient manner. It helps sewage treatment plants operate in an eco-friendly way and contributes to the sustainable development of cities.
Can pellet activated carbon remove odors from urban domestic sewage?Yes. Special pellet activated carbon can efficiently adsorb hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, organic odors and other malodorous substances generated by domestic sewage with stable treatment performance, making it a preferred material for deodorization of domestic sewage.
Why is pellet activated carbon more popular in urban sewage treatment?It adapts well to complex working conditions of sewage treatment and has a wide adsorption range with stable treatment results. Besides, it is easy to install without large-scale equipment renovation. It can be recycled for reuse, featuring low operation and maintenance costs and no secondary pollution. Its overall cost performance is superior to other deodorization technologies.
Which odorous components can pellet activated carbon mainly remove in sewage treatment?It primarily eliminates sulfur-containing compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan, nitrogen-containing compounds including ammonia and trimethylamine, as well as VOCs like aldehydes, ketones and fatty acids, together with typical malodorous substances in sewage such as indole and skatole.
Is impregnated activated carbon a must for sewage treatment?Not necessarily. Conventional special pellet activated carbon works well for working conditions with low-concentration odors. Impregnated activated carbon is only suggested for scenarios with high hydrogen sulfide concentration and severe odor pollution to enhance deodorization performance.
What is the service life of activated carbon in sewage treatment?There is no fixed service cycle, which depends on pollutant concentration, air velocity, operating temperature, humidity and inlet gas cleanliness. Under normal working conditions of municipal sewage treatment, its service life is 6 to 8 months, and can extend to more than 10 months under favorable conditions.
EN
