Styrene Removal from Polluted Air in Biotrickling Filter with Pyrocarbon-Sawdust and Ceramic-Raschig-Rings-Sawdust Packings

Abstract

In this paper, a mixed microbial population biotrickling filter (BTF) was investigated for styrene removal with two different packings at different empty bed residence times and gas-liquid ratio(GLR). The two biotrickling filters inoculated with a Pyrocarbon-sawdust and ceramic-raschig-rings-sawdust mixed packings were filled respectively in two identical laboratory-scale biotrickling filters which were operated in parallel. The results showed that the BTF filling with pyrocarbon-sawdust packings had higher rate of bio-film formation and removal efficiency of styrene than that of ceramic-raschig-rings-sawdust packings. When an inlet gas concentration of 50 to 450 mg/m³, an Empty Bed Residence Time (EBRT) of 21.6 to 43.2 s, and a gas-liquid ratio (GLR) of 110.7 to 55.3, a maximum styrene removal load is up to 153.1 g/(m³·h). During shock-load experiments with shutdown, the styrene removal efficiency of the BTF could gradually reach 92 % to 100 % by 14 h.