Advice for ‘Fishy’ Odour Problems

REFERRING to your article on 15 July about odour problems from a fishmeal plant in Walvis Bay, it may be mentioned that similar problems used to be well-known also in Norway.

Today, however, it is technically easy and not particularly expensive to get rid of stinking emissions from fishmeal plants. Consulting a Norwegian expert on purification of effluents (both gaseous and aqueous) from fishmeal plants, Mr.Gundersen says that for the factory in Walvis Bay it would be easy as a first step to install a water scrubber that will remove more than 95% of odour components.Depending on capacity requirements, the cost of such an installation may be estimated at approximately US$100 000.The equipment may probably be delivered in about 6 to 8 weeks after it has been ordered, and installation should be easy.It should certainly take less than 6 months to solve the problem, or at least 95% of it.For further purification one may install either chemical or thermal equipment for destruction of remaining odour components.Different solutions are possible which may be more or less expensive and of different complexity.Mr.Gundersen says most of the necessary equipment can be produced locally with engineering support e.g.from himself.Perhaps it might be an idea also to ask Mr.Gundersen to come to Walvis Bay and see what might be done?Olav Albert Christophersen Oslo, NorwayConsulting a Norwegian expert on purification of effluents (both gaseous and aqueous) from fishmeal plants, Mr.Gundersen says that for the factory in Walvis Bay it would be easy as a first step to install a water scrubber that will remove more than 95% of odour components.Depending on capacity requirements, the cost of such an installation may be estimated at approximately US$100 000.The equipment may probably be delivered in about 6 to 8 weeks after it has been ordered, and installation should be easy.It should certainly take less than 6 months to solve the problem, or at least 95% of it.For further purification one may install either chemical or thermal equipment for destruction of remaining odour components.Different solutions are possible which may be more or less expensive and of different complexity.Mr.Gundersen says most of the necessary equipment can be produced locally with engineering support e.g.from himself.Perhaps it might be an idea also to ask Mr.Gundersen to come to Walvis Bay and see what might be done? Olav Albert Christophersen Oslo, Norway