Estimation of VOC emissions using the BASTE model

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Abstract
Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wastewater raises concerns as many VOCs are photochemically reactive and contribute to the formation of tropospheric ozone, and may be toxic with subsequent adverse affects on human health. Many municipal wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) and industries are, or will be, required to complete extensive VOC emissions inventories. Accurate VOC emission models are desirable to facilitate such inventories, and to serve as alternatives to resource‐intensive air sampling at all processes within WWTFs. A flexible VOC fate model (Bay Area Sewage Toxics Emissions: BASTE) has been developed to simulate a wide range of treatment configurations within WWTFs. In addition to its ability to simulate complex treatment trains, BASTE has several features not found in existing VOC fate models. These features include the ability to (1) simulate covered treatment processes, (2) mix mechanistic emissions estimates with emissions measurements and empirical emission factors, and (3) incorporate measured dissolved oxygen concentrations as surrogate measures of VOC emission potential.