Biofiltration of a mixture of volatile organic compounds on granular activated carbon

Abstract

The performance of a biofilter packed with Active Carbon (AC) was evaluated. The effluent (alcohol, ketones, esters, aromatic and chlorinated compounds) treated was a representative mixture of most common industrial emissions. To achieve a better knowledge of multicomponent adsorption mechanisms, and to underline the interest of inoculating AC, a control abiotic humidified filter had been operated in the same conditions as the biofilter. For a load of 110 g VOC m(-3) AC h(-1), after 55 days of operation, the removal efficiency was higher in the biotic than in the abiotic filter (85% vs 55%, respectively). Moreover, in the biofilter, at steady state, the elimination of all compounds was almost complete except for chlorinated compounds and p-xylene (removal efficiency of 25% and 64%, respectively). The microbial colonization of AC involved a decrease of the adsorption sites accessibility and enhanced the treatment of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) having a lower affinity for activated carbon. Moreover, while aromatic compounds and MIBK were eliminated along the overall height of the biofilter, pollutants with reduced affinity for AC, such as methanol, acetone, and halogenated compounds were only treated on the second half of the reactor. Thus, the affinity for activated carbon was an important parameter controlling the biodegradation process. Nevertheless, the use of AC as packing material in biofilters treating complex mixtures of VOCs is limited. Actually, similar removal efficiency could be reached, in the same conditions, for a biofilter packed with granular peat. Furthermore, for the biofilter packed with AC, the column height necessary to remove biodegradable compounds, with reduced affinity for the support, was important.

Interaction between sorption and biodegradation in a biofilter packed with activated carbon

“…Duan et al (2007) studied the simultaneous effect of biodegradation and sorption of hydrogen sulfide on the surface of activated carbon and concluded that the biofilm developed on carbon surface improves the removal of H 2 S in comparison to an abiotic system. On the contrary, Aizpuru et al (2003) achieved a removal efficiency of 90% in a peat biofilter and an 80% in a granular activated carbon for abatement of VOCs. It was assumed that the sorptive properties of activated carbon could modify the degradation mechanism and then implicate a real reduction of the removal efficiency.…”

An Investigation on the Efficiency of Air Purification Using a Biofilter with Activated Bed of Different Origin

“…Frequently, biofilter beds of artificial origin are composed of polyurethane, propylene, polythene, glass, ceramic balls and other materials. However, after some time all these materials disintegrate under the action of microorganisms (Aizpuru et al, 2003;Delhomenie et al, 2002;Deshusses et al, 1999;Szwast et al, 2012;Yamamoto et al, 2005;Zilli et al, 2001). …”

“…To maintain sorptive properties of the biofilter bed, wood chips can be mixed with materials of a larger sorption surface, such as foam. Thus, such a biofilter bed should have better sorptive properties, low density, low price and large area for air purification (Aizpuru et al, 2003;Cheng et al, 2006;Tymczyna et al, 2004;Yamamoto et al, 2005).…”

Paraserianthes Falcaria Activated Carbon for the Absorption of Heavy Metal Fe+3 in Simulated Waste Water

“…Activated carbon is available in form of powder and granular. Aispuru has been using granular activated carbon for biofiltration [16]. Many researchers has been using coconut shell as material for manufacturing activated carbon.…”