Device for Treating a Gaseous Effluent Loaded with Odorant Compounds using a Three-Dimensional Mesh, Corresponding Installation and Process

1 .- 19 . (canceled)

20 . A method for removing odiferous compounds from a gaseous influent the method comprising:

directing gaseous stream into a reactor;

mixing the gaseous stream with a wash solution in the reactor to from a liquid-gas mixture;

directing the liquid-gas mixture through a mesh disposed in the reactor and promoting contact between the gaseous influent and the wash solution in the liquid-gas mixture; and

wherein the contact between the gaseous influent and the wash solution caused by the mesh results in odiferous compounds being removed from the gaseous influent.

21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising directing the gaseous influent in the liquid-gas mixture through the reactor at a rate between approximately 1 m/s and approximately 30 m/s.

22 . The method of claim 21 further comprising directing the gaseous influent in the liquid-gas mixture through the reactor at a rate between approximately 10 m/s and approximately 20 m/s.

23 . The method of claim 20 further comprising directing the wash solution and the gaseous influent in the liquid-gas mixture through the reactor at rate such that the ratio of the rate of wash solution to the rate of gaseous influent is between approximately 0.5 and approximately 15.

24 . The method of claim 23 further comprising directing the gaseous influent and the wash solution in the liquid-gas mixture through the reactor at a rate such that the ratio of the rate of wash solution to the rate of gaseous influent is between approximately 2 and approximately 10.

25 . The method of claim 20 further comprising directing the gaseous influent and the wash solution in the liquid-gas mixture through the reactor at a rate such that the ratio of the rate of wash solution to the rate of gaseous influent is expressed by the formula (Q L ×1000)/(Q G ×1.23).

26 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:

separating at least a portion of the gaseous influent from the liquid-gas mixture;

directing at least a portion of the gaseous influent from the reactor through a gas outlet;

directing at least a portion of the wash solution from the liquid-gas mixture from the reactor and into a recirculation line; and

directing at least a portion of the wash solution from the recirculation line into the reactor; and

treating the gaseous influent in the reactor with the wash solution from the recirculation line.

27 . The method of claim 26 further comprising collecting droplets of the wash solution from the gaseous influent in a liquid collector and directing the droplets into the recirculation line.

28 . The method of claim 20 further comprising directing the gaseous influent into the reactor in a counter-current direction relative to the wash solution.

29 . The method of claim 20 further comprising treating the gaseous influent with an acidic wash solution and removing odiferous compounds from the gaseous influent.

30 . The method of claim 20 further comprising treating the gaseous influent with a basic wash solution and removing odiferous compounds from the gaseous influent.

31 . The method of claim 30 further comprising treating the gaseous influent with an oxidizing basic wash solution and removing odiferous compounds from the gaseous influent.

32 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:

directing the gaseous influent into the reactor in the same direction as the wash solution;

directing the gaseous influent through the reactor at a rate between approximately 10 m/s and approximately 20 m/s;

directing the wash solution and the gaseous influent through the reactor at rate such that the ratio of the rate of wash solution to the rate of gaseous influent is between approximately 2 and approximately 10;

separating at least a portion of the wash solution from the gaseous influent with a liquid eliminator; and

collecting the wash solution separated from the gaseous influent in a liquid collector and directing the wash solution into the recirculation line.

33 . A system for removing odiferous compounds from a gaseous influent comprising:

a reactor for treating the gaseous influent with a wash solution;

an inlet for directing the gaseous stream into the reactor;

an inlet for directing the wash solution into the reactor;

a mesh disposed within the reactor for promoting contact between the gaseous influent and the wash solution;

the mesh extending a substantial length through the reactor and including a plurality of interconnected strands that form an array of openings;

a liquid eliminator disposed downstream of the reactor to separate the wash solution from the gaseous influent;

a liquid collector disposed below the liquid eliminator to receive and hold wash solution separated from the gaseous influent by the liquid eliminator;

an outlet disposed downstream from the liquid eliminator to direct treated gaseous influent from the reactor; and

a recirculation line extending outside the reactor to recirculate the wash solution.

34 . The system of claim 33 wherein each of the plurality of strands has a circular cross-section and a diameter of between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 4 mm.

35 . The system of claim 34 wherein the strands are semi-rigid.

36 . The system of claim 33 wherein the mesh includes openings having a length of between approximately 1 cm and approximately 10 cm.

37 . The system of claim 36 wherein the mesh includes openings having a length of between approximately 1 cm and approximately 3 cm.

38 . A system for removing odiferous compounds from a gaseous influent comprising:

a reactor for treating the gaseous influent with a wash solution;

an inlet for directing the gaseous stream into the reactor;

an inlet for directing the wash solution into the reactor;

a mesh disposed within the reactor for promoting contact between the gaseous influent and the wash solution; and

the mesh extending a substantial length through the reactor and including a plurality of interconnected strands that form an array of openings.

39 . The method of claim 38 further comprising:

a liquid eliminator disposed downstream of the reactor to separate the wash solution from the gaseous influent;

a liquid collector disposed below the liquid eliminator to receive and hold wash solution separated from the gaseous influent by the liquid eliminator; and

a recirculation line extending outside the reactor to recirculate the wash solution.