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

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of the biodegradation interactions between styrene and acetone, two typical paint solvents and vapor phase pollutants differing in water solubility and biodegradability, was conducted both in a trickle bed reactor (TBR) and a biofilter (BF). The loading rate experiments were performed by increasing the acetone concentration in the inlet air while keeping the styrene concentration and loading rate constant.

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

“…Detailed descriptions of two bench-scale bioreactors used in this study were provided in previous publication (Paca et al 2012b). The trickle bed reactor (TBR, Fig.…”

“…The trickle bed reactor (TBR, Fig. 1 Comamonas testosteroni (G -rods), Pseudomonas putida (G -rods) and Bacillus cereus (G + rods) all being primary styrene and acetone degraders] was immobilized in both the reactors and then used in previous study conducted with the same substrates (Paca et al 2012b). Similar to this previous study, the reactors were operated in a concurrent airwater down-flow mode at the same empty bed retention time of 53 s. The same dilute mineral medium of the following composition was used in both reactors (per liter): 0.4 g (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , 0.3 g KNO 3 , 0.1 g NaCl, 0.125 g K 2 HPO 4 , 0.085 g KH 2 PO 4 , 0.34 g MgCl 2 .…”

“…The details of bioreactor operation were the same as described by Paca et al (2012b). Since the bioreactors had been adapted to the styrene/acetone mixture in the previous study, no adaptation/start-up procedures were required.…”

“…The removal efficiency (RE), elimination capacity (EC), organic load (OL) and empty bed residence time were calculated using standard definitions of these operation and performance parameters, as described by Paca et al (2012b).…”

“…These two studies documented a number of substrate interactions, thus necessitating a further reduction in the system's complexity. Another study addressed the biofiltration of a mixture of just two components, styrene (minor component) and acetone (major component), with a gradual increase in the loading by the latter (Paca et al 2012b). To complement that work, the current study was designed to monitor the application of a reciprocal loading pattern.…”