Development of an air pollutant emission control system for the Fishmeal Industry in Peru

Abstract

Peruvian fishery is ranked among the 10 countries with the highest global fisheries production due to the abundance of marine biomass located on the Pacific coast. Therefore, it is a strategic resource for the country’s economy, especially for anchovy fishing, the main marine resource for the production of fishmeal, for which 95% of the catch is destined and which ends up placing Peru as the leading producer of fishmeal in the world. Since the 1950s, the evolution of the fishing industry has been constant, however, the fishmeal industry is one of the sources generating emissions of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), trimethylamine (C3H9N), mercaptans and ammonia (NH3) in the country. These emissions are currently treated with atmospheric control techniques and have managed to comply with the maximum permissible limits established by Peruvian legislation. However, another polluting aspect not taken into account with so much pressure towards the industry is the pollution towards the population caused by the bad odors generated during the process. In this research a review of the production process of fishmeal, the legislation established by the Peruvian state and the European Union was carried out, and of the different scientific studies focused on the control of odours produced by various industries and especially the fishing industry and fishmeal. With the available scientific information, an air pollutant treatment system has been developed to help reduce odors to 100%. This system includes the control techniques already used by the industry, such as, the use of cyclones, scrubbers with sea water, to which is added the addition of a biofilter as a new technique. The selection of the biofilter for odor reduction was based on savings in installation and maintenance costs compared to incineration (thermal and catalytic), chemical absorption, water absorption and adsorption, by 84%, 58%, 57 % and 11% respectively. In addition to the high efficiency achieved in the elimination of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), trimethylamine (C3H9N), mercaptans and ammonia (NH3) in fishmeal plants, the food sector, sewage and waste treatment plants. It should be noted that the parameters of use of the biofilter are still under study, so there is no specific model for each industry