Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Biofiltration with Two Packing Materials

Abstract

The treatment of a gas stream containing a mixture of acetone, toluene and trichlorethylene (TCE) was tested in two biofilters packed with compost only (biofilter B1) or a mixture of pozzolan and compost (biofilter B2). The biofilter performance was evaluated at VOCs concentration of 101 mg m(-3) of acetone - 210 mg m(-3) of toluene - 89 mg m(-3) of TCE and air flow of 0.8 m(3) h(-1). Inocula were provided by the compost native microflora and microbial growth was enhanced by periodically adding an average of 150 ml of a commercial nutrient solution to each biofilter. Pollutant removal efficiencies of 100% (acetone loading of 7-13 g m(-3) h(-1)) and 80% (toluene loading of 17-21 g m(-3) h(-1)) were achieved for acetone and toluene, respectively, in biofilter B1. By comparison, these values were 100% (acetone loading of 6-11 g m(-3) h(-1)) and 90% (toluene loading 16 - 27g m(-3) h(-1) and after the complete re-moisturization of the porous medium) in biofilter B2. TCE was not eliminated in either of the biofilters tested. The compost was a good packing material which also provided a suitable microbial flora for the quick decomposition of acetone and toluene, however it was subject to clogging. Mixing this material with pozzolan solved this problem and enabled the biofilter capacity to be maintained over a long period of time.

Research on the Aerodynamic Resistance of Trickle Biofilter / Lašelinio Biofiltro Aerodinaminio Pasipriešinimo Tyrimai

“…teršalams iš oro valyti taikomi įvairūs metodai (absorbcija, adsorbcija ir kt. ), tačiau dažniausiai iš jų pasirenkamas biologinis oro valymas (Gracy et al 2006;Skaistys, Vaiškūnaitė 2006;Vaiškūnaitė 2008;Ryu et al 2010).…”

Analysis of Metabolites and Carbon Balance in the Biofilteration of Cumene Using Loofa Sponge as Biofilter Media

“…Since the biofiltration involves microorganism for degradation of pollutants, which suggest that the main factor for controlling these processes requires proper growth and support media for microorganism, many researchers have used synthetic and natural materials such as polyurethane foams, polyester foams, wood charcoal, activated carbon, compost, corncob, and yard waste for biofilteration [5,[20][21][22][23]. But due to biocompatibility and natural support, natural biofilter media have shown better results than synthetic media.…”

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

“…In more recent papers (Alvarez-Hornos et al, 2007;Dorado et al 2012a, b;Gracy et al, 2006;Hwang and Tang, 1997;Iliuta and Larachi, 2004;Jeong at al., 2006;Morgado et al, 2004;Wani et al, 1997) the reported removal efficiency for toluene or xylene reached 90% or more depending on the initial concentration and load of the pollutant, air residence time in biofilters and type of bed materials. High loads of toluene can be treated by a non-specific consortium in biofiltration (up to 1280 g m -3 h -1 in the first 25 cm of the biofilter).…”

“…Following the experience of earlier investigations carried out by other authors the present experimental studies lasted 1 year (Choi and Oh, 2002;Dorado et al, 2010;Gracy et al, 2006;Jorio et al, 2009;Trusek-Holownia et al, 2012;Vaiškūnaitė et al, 2005Vaiškūnaitė et al, , 2008Vaiškūnaitė et al, , 2011.…”

“…Since toluene is an organic material much less soluble in water, its concentration after this layer varied not as much as that of acetone. Removal efficiency of pollutants from cleaned air depends on gas residence time in biofilters (AlvarezHornos et al, 2007;Dorado et al 2008Dorado et al , 2010Dorado et al , 2012aGracy et al, 2006;Hwang and Tang, 1997;Jeong at al., 2006;Qi, 2005;Yoon and Park, 2002;Zilli et al, 2001). The longer is the empty bed residence time (EBRT) of polluted gas the higher removal efficiency can be observed.…”