Application of a novel respirometric methodology to characterize mass transfer and activity of H2S-oxidizing biofilms in biotrickling filter beds, Biochemical Engineering Journal http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bej. 2015.02.030 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. • A novel respirometer design characterized the kinetics in H 2 S-oxidizing biofilms 3• H 2 S biofiltration properties were evaluated from a sample of biotrickling filter bed 4• Short-term respirometric assays (< 20 min) were performed 5• A mathematical model of the biotrickling filter bed respirometry was developed 6• The non-wetted biofilm fraction contributed 65% to the overall removal of H 2 S by the experimental evaluation of the oxygen uptake rate (OUR

A novel heterogeneous respirometer for in situ assessment of the biological activity and mass transport phenomena of biofilm developed on packing materials of gas-phase biological filters is presented. The flexible respirometer configuration allows reproducing the operational features of biofilters and biotrickling filters to obtain reliable diagnoses of the bioreactor performance. A batch-operating mode was chosen for the biological assessment in which dynamic concentrations of oxygen, pollutant, and carbon dioxide were online recorded and used to calibrate a mathematical model that considers the principal phenomena occurring in the respirometer. The maximum elimination capacity of two different packing materials colonized by sulfide-oxidizing bacteria and toluene-oxidizing fungal populations was estimated and compared with previously reported values. Additionally the rate controlling phenomena were analyzed using the biofilm effectiveness factor. The experimental system can be easily applied to pilot- and industrial-scale gas-phase biological filters when the kinetic expression of pollutant degradation is available.

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