Development of high-rate trickle bed biofilter
- Univ. of Cincinnati, OH (United States); and others
Since enactment of the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act, the control and removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from contaminated air streams have become a major public concern. Consequently, considerable interest has evolved in developing more economical technologies for cleaning contaminated air streams, especially dilute air streams. Biofiltration has emerged as a practical air pollution control (APC) technology for VOC removal. In fact, biofiltration can be a cost-effective alternative to the more traditional technologies, such as carbon adsorption and incineration, for removal of low levels of VOCs in large air streams. Such cost effectiveness is the consequence of a combination of low energy requirements and microbial oxidation of the VOCs at ambient conditions. Preliminary investigations were performed on three media: a proprietary compost mixture; a synthetic, monolithic, straight-channeled (channelized) medium; and a synthetic, randomly packed, pelletized medium. These media were selected to offer a wide range of microbial environments and attachment surfaces and different air/water contacting geometries. The results of this preliminary work demonstrated that 95+% VOC removal efficiency could be sustained by all three media at a toluene loading of 0.725 kg COD/m{sub 3}-d, but at different empty bed contact times (EBCTs). For the pelletized medium, this performance could be achieved at an EBCT of 1 min, for the channelized medium at 4 min, and for the compost medium at 8 min. Both synthetic media developed headloss over time, with the pelletized medium showing a pressure drop in excess of several feet of water after sustained, continuous operation. This paper discusses the continuing research being performed for development of biofiltration as an efficient, reliable, and cost-effective VOC APC technology.
- OSTI ID:
- 111469
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9504110--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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