ISO 23139:2023

Overview

ISO 23139:2023 - "Biological equipment for treating air and other gases - Requirements and application guidance for deodorization in wastewater treatment plants" provides international requirements and practical guidance for design, manufacture, commissioning and operation of biological deodorization systems in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). It covers odour gas characterization, process selection, equipment manufacture and installation, start‑up and operation, performance assessment, and safety and secondary pollution control. The standard supports owners, operators and suppliers in developing effective, low‑cost biological odour control solutions such as biofilters, biotrickling filters and bioscrubbers.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Odour gas characterization
  • Measurement and reporting of flow rate, temperature, relative humidity, odorant species and odour concentration.
  • Guidance for on‑site sampling and use of flux chambers or wind tunnels when no collection system exists.
• Process selection and design
  • Selection between biofilter, trickling biofilter (biotrickling filter) and bioscrubber based on odorant type, concentration and flow.
  • Typical system layout (pre‑treatment, bioreactor column, filter bed, water feeding and leachate handling).
• Manufacture, installation and start‑up
  • Requirements for equipment construction, packing media and water feeding systems.
  • Commissioning and biological start‑up guidance (inoculation, nutrients, pH control).
• Operation, maintenance and performance assessment
  • Monitoring indicators such as pressure drop, empty bed residence time (EBRT), odorant removal efficiency (E) and odorant removal rate (r).
  • Calculation methods for removal efficiency and elimination capacity; measurement references for odour concentration (e.g., EN 13725, ASTM D 1391).
• Safety and secondary pollution control
  • Measures to manage hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and VOC risks, prevent corrosion and control liquid effluents/leachate.

Applications and who uses this standard

ISO 23139:2023 is intended for:

• WWTP owners and plant operators specifying, operating and maintaining odour control systems.
• Design engineers and consulting firms performing process selection and system sizing.
• Equipment manufacturers and suppliers of biofilters, biotrickling filters and bioscrubbers.
• Environmental compliance teams and regulators assessing odour mitigation performance.

Typical applications include odour control at pre‑treatment units, anaerobic tanks, sludge handling areas and centralized headworks where biological deodorization is preferred for low operating cost and limited secondary pollution.

Related standards and references

• Odour measurement methods referenced in the standard (examples): EN 13725, ASTM D 1391, GB/T 14675-93.
• Prepared by ISO/TC 142 (Cleaning equipment for air and other gases).

Keywords: ISO 23139:2023, biological deodorization, WWTPs, biofilter, biotrickling filter, bioscrubber, odour gas characterization, odorant removal efficiency, odour concentration, performance assessment.