Designing oxidation-based treatment
Engineers developed a sulfide oxidation system to remove hydrogen sulfide odors efficiently and cost-effectively.
Bel Brands, one of the world’s largest cheese manufacturers, sought to swiftly eliminate hydrogen sulfide odors from the company’s processing effluent.
Bel Brands USA
Brookings, South Dakota
Bel Brands partnered with CDM Smith to design and build a treatment system that eliminates downstream odor issues and meets strict discharge limits, all within an accelerated five-month timeframe before the onset of South Dakota's winter.
Engineers developed a sulfide oxidation system to remove hydrogen sulfide odors efficiently and cost-effectively.
Bench-scale trials determined the ideal air flow, retention time and tank size to achieve complete oxidation results.
A design-build approach allowed the team and its local partners to complete design and construction in just five months.
The 81,250-gallon oxidation tank requires less than 5 hours to fully eliminate odors before discharging the effluent.
The new oxidation system processes high-strength wastewater while maintaining less than 5 ppm hydrogen sulfide in the sewer, meeting Bel Brands’ goals for efficiency and environmental stewardship. By avoiding the use of chemicals or offsite disposal, the system minimizes long-term operating costs and environmental impact. Completed under a demanding schedule, the project showcases the power of collaboration and design-build delivery in achieving swift, sustainable industrial solutions.