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

Abstract

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

Biodegradation of 2,5‐dimethylpyrazine in gas and liquid phase by the fungus Fusarium solani

“…In turn, this implies that a large flow of water would be required. On the other hand, biofiltration of contaminated gaseous streams has been successfully applied to the abatement of arenes such as toluene, benzene, styrene and xylene, 8‐12 and the treatment of nitrogen‐containing pollutants such as triethylamine 13,14 . On the contrary, there are no reports on the biofiltration of pyrazines or alkylpyrazines.…”

“…On the other hand, biofiltration of contaminated gaseous streams has been successfully applied to the abatement of arenes such as toluene, benzene, styrene and xylene, [8][9][10][11][12] and the treatment of nitrogen-containing pollutants such as triethylamine. 13,14 On the contrary, there are no reports on the biofiltration of pyrazines or alkylpyrazines. As recognized by Rappert and Müller, 15 a prime requirement for the design of biofiltration units for the treatment of these odorous compounds is an understanding of the capabilities of microbes for their degradation.…”

Mechanism of Zn(II) enhanced biodegradation of m-dichlorobenzene

“…Sun reported that ceramic pellets were used as packing material to establish a BTF to purify waste gas containing styrene, and results indicated that the removal efficiency (RE) of styrene could be reached up to 95% [11]. Aguirre reported that in BTF, the removal efficiencies were 100% for ammonia and H 2 S, 73% for methanol, 63% for trimethylamine, 41% for dimethylsulphide, and 32% for 2,5-dimethylpirazyne at day 538, respectively [12]. Previous studies have proven that volatile organic pollutants can be degraded by BTF.…”