Modelling the steady state and dynamic conditions of a biotrickling filter treating styrene and acetone in air

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Biofiltration of a styrene/acetone vapor mixture in two reactor types under conditions of styrene overloading

“…However, consistently <100% acetone removal observed in the current study in both the reactors while styrene was removed completely at similar (low) concentrations indicated that the biochemical acetone degradation fluxes could be comparable to those of its mass transfer. Such a dual nature of the rate-limiting step of acetone removal corroborated the modeling results obtained in a similar system by Gerrard et al (2010), the modeling ascertained the zero order on acetone but yielded comparable goodness of fit for mass transfer and reaction limited assumptions. Chang and Lu (2003) and Atoche and Moe (2004) reported the values of OL 90% for overloading by aromatics (toluene), 68 (BF) and 125 (TBR) g c /m 3 /h, respectively, which ed the threshold value of 30 g c /m 3 /h observed in this study.…”

Biofiltration of a styrene/acetone vapor mixture in two reactor types under conditions of acetone overloading

“…Acetone and styrene vapors form a mixture of VOCs containing both hydrophobic and polar components. This mixture is representative for point‐source air pollution amenable to biofiltration 1, 2. Similar mixtures are acetone and toluene3 or paint solvents 4, 5.…”

Biofiltration of volatile organic compounds of Brazilian gasoline

“…The pollutant is removed from the air by dissolution, sorption and bio-oxidation; in other words, it is dissolved into the active biofilm and adsorbed by the support, being available for biological oxidation, a process that remains dynamically (Soares 2006). Biofiltration processes can be economic and efficient due to their low operational and capital costs, together with the effective removal of the pollutant, low pressure drop and their ability to treat aid-producing contaminants (Gerrard et al 2010). In the USA, the maximum of ethanol allowed concentration is 10%, while in Europe it is only 5%.…”