Biofiltration of high concentrations of methanol vapors: removal performance, carbon balance and microbial and fly populations

BACKGROUND Biofilters can be used to eliminate different gaseous pollutants including alcohols (e.g. methanol, ethanol) and methane (CH4) individually or in a mixture. In this regard, the biofilter adaptability to feed composition variation is an industrial requisite. Inlet gas composition changes also give a better insight about carbon input and end‐points in biofilters. In this study, the gradual conversions of two biofilters from methanol and ethanol to CH4 were investigated. RESULTS Both biofilters reached 100% removal efficiencies for the alcohols with no initial inoculation. Keeping the total inlet load constant (30 ± 1.3 g m−3 h−1), CH4 was progressively substituted in the feed with corresponding alcohol:CH4 mass ratios of 3:1, 1:1, 1:3 and 0 galcohol:gCH4. Maximum CH4 removal efficiencies of 52% and 29% were obtained (respectively) for biofilters started with methanol and ethanol. By moving from alcohols to CH4 biofilters, the gas phase output carbon increased from 273 to 666 gcarbon day−1 and from 377 to 681 gcarbon day−1 respectively for the methanol‐ and ethanol‐based biofilters. CONCLUSION This study showed a successful treatment based on inlet pollutant alteration from methanol or ethanol to CH4 in two separate biofilters. However, the methanol‐based biofilter displayed a better performance and a shorter acclimation time for CH4 conversion. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Carbon Content and Distribution In Gas Phasementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Moving from alcohol to methane biofilters: an experimental study on biofilter performance and carbon distribution

Ferdowsi

Desrochers

Jones

et al. 2019

Characterization of the microbial community in a biotrickling filter treating a complex mixture of gaseous compounds causing odor nuisance

Aguirre

Gentina

Malhautier

et al. 2021

BACKGROUND Industrial gaseous emissions causing odor nuisance has become a major environmental issue in many countries. Biotrickling filters are suitable for treating mixtures of gaseous compounds with high removal efficiencies. The aim of this work was to determine the vertical distribution of microbial communities established in a biotrickling filter treating a mixture of gaseous compounds causing odor nuisance, and to correlate its performance with the spatial and temporal distribution of inoculated bacteria. RESULTS In the long‐term operation, at day 538, the removal efficiencies were 100% for ammonia and H2S, 73% for methanol, 63% for trimethylamine, 41% for dimethylsulphide, and 32% for 2,5‐dimethylpirazyne; the elimination capacities were 1.5 [g NH3 m−3bed h−1], 0.7 [g H2S m−3bed h−1], 0.7 [g MeOH m−3bed h−1], 3.3 [g TMA m−3bed h−1], 0.21 [g DMS m−3bed h−1], and 0.6 [g 2,5‐DMP m−3bed h−1]. A stratification pattern of pollutants degradation along the biotrickling filter (BTF) was identified, where most of the removal of NH3, TMA, and H2S occurred at the lower level of the column, the removal of methanol and 2,5‐dimethylpyrazine occurred at low and medium levels, and the removal of dimethylsulphide occurred mainly at the upper levels. High‐throughput DNA sequencing analysis showed a colonization by bacteria genera different from the inoculated and a stratification of these bacteria along the BTF. CONCLUSION There is stratification in the biofilm of a biotrickling filter during its long‐term operation, and a relationship between the stratification of the microbial communities and the removal of the complex mixture of gases was identified. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry

Proof of concept of a novel in tandem biofilter photobioreactor system for valorization of volatile organic compounds: mineralization of methanol vapors coupled with use of CO₂ as a carbon source for Arthrospira maxima growth

Cruz‐García

Aizpuru

2021

Self Cite

BACKGROUND Methanol, a common air pollutant, can be converted to CO2 by biofiltration. In turn, biofilter CO2 streams, contributing to the greenhouse effect, could represent a zero‐cost carbon source for microalgal production. To assess the potential of the combination of both bioprocesses, cultivation of Arthrospira maxima, a major source of added‐value natural products, was carried out with three different carbon sources (bicarbonate mineral medium, CO2 from ambient air, and CO2 from a methanol biofilter outlet). RESULTS Methanol vapors were almost completely treated in the biofilter, achieving an elimination capacity of 148 ± 18 g m−3 h−1 for an inlet load of 157 ± 12 g m−3 h−1, while producing an average of 152 ± 42 g m−3 h−1 of CO2. Compared to cultivation in classic bicarbonate mineral medium, the resulting CO2 concentration in the biofilter outlet (0.5 ± 0.1% (v/v)) allowed for a 20% higher final production of A. maxima (1.3 g dry weight (DW) L−1 of medium). Moreover, the cultivation of A. maxima significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the biofilter, with a fixation rate of 302 mg CO2 L−1 h−1. Additionally, enriched CO2 concentrations coming from the biofilter outlet allowed for a 117% higher A. maxima productivity rate than ambient air (76.5 ± 2.9 vs. 35.3 ± 1.3 mg DW L−1 d−1). CONCLUSION Substantial reduction of the cost of microalgae production and treatment of gaseous contaminants can be carried out in tandem. Further optimization of hybrid bioprocesses could represent a win–win opportunity from both environmental and economic viewpoints. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).