Olores.org Newsletter February 2025

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   An online workshop on the CALPUFF/CALMET air quality modelling via TEAMS has been proposed for 22nd May 2025. This event is organized by Mr. David Lyder, Senior Air Modelling Standards Engineer of the Air Policy Section of the Government of Alberta, along with Mr Madhan Selvaraj, Mr. Wally Qiu and Mr. Piotr Staniaszek. The idea is to gather feedback from the air quality modelling community. The event will aim to hear which updates professionals want to incorporate into the CALPUFF/CALMET system.

   The CALPUFF/CALMET air quality modelling system is an essential tool for regulatory air quality modelling applications and is widely used worldwide. However, it has not been updated for some time and requires improvements to incorporate the best available science and methodologies. During the 2024 Air & Waste Management Association conference held in Calgary, Alberta, it was recognized that the recent acquisition of the CALPUFF/CALMET code by Lakes Environmental Inc. presents an ideal opportunity to begin this process of updates.

   The European Commission's new Best Available Techniques Reference Document for the Smitheries and Foundries Industry (SF BREF), has been recently published on 6 December 2024. This BREF establishes stringent guidelines aimed at reducing the environmental impact of foundries and smitheries across the European Union, with an emphasis on odour management and control.

   Odour management emerges as a key focus in this new SF BREF, reflecting growing concerns about the impact of industrial odours on local communities. The document introduces new approaches to odour control, including mandatory implementation of odour management plans and advanced monitoring techniques. These new provisions represent a significant shift from the previous BREF, highlighting the increasing importance of addressing odour issues in the industry.

   The Chilean Ministry of Environment has made significant progress in odour regulation throughout 2024, with plans to continue this momentum into 2025.

   Here's a summary of the key developments:

   The Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment, and Geology (HLNUG) is hosting its 2025 stack emission proficiency tests (Ringversuche), offering industry professionals an opportunity to evaluate and enhance their emission measurement capabilities. Among the many tests, odour measurements take center stage with three key proficiency testing sessions scheduled throughout the year.

   Every year, several tens of laboratories from around 20 different countries around the world participate in an Interlaboratory Comparison (ILC) to check proficiency according to European standard EN 13725/2003 organized by Olfasense, Lab Service or other organizations. However those ILC do not study the influence of “Sampling” on the overall uncertainty. Taking an odour sample is another parameter to take into account in the estimation of the overall uncertainty of a lab. That is why, since 2015, the Hessian Agency for the Environment and Geology (HLUG) organizes every year a regular test with tens of labs participating.

   WWTP Pinedo, one of the biggest wastewater treatment plants in Spain, installed a network of eNoses on the site in Valencia.

   An important element of the learning process of eNoses is to have sufficient human references that can analyzed against the eNose data. So far, reports entered by citizens using the NASAPP platform have been used as human references in this project.

G. Monzón, S. Bootsman

   The Biocassette system was implemented in 2023 at a Murcia East WWTP pumping station to reduce gas emissions in unitary sewage systems, especially in areas with extreme weather conditions.

   This plug-and-play biofiltration equipment effectively removes VOCs, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia with low water and electricity consumption. Its compact, modular design and high-efficiency inorganic bio-media ensure a long service life (4-5 years) and stable operation. This system presents a sustainable alternative to traditional deodorization technologies, offering efficient and reliable odor treatment.  

R. Egea^a, F.J. Breis^b, Gas Treatment SUEZ Air Quality & Climate^c