VOCs in fixed film processes. I: Pilot studies

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of Environmental Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1996)122:7(557)· OSTI ID:267981

Parker, W J ^[1]; Monteith, H D ^[2]; Melcer, H ^[3]

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1. Carleton Univ., Ottawa, Ontario (Canada). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
2. Enviromega Ltd., Hamilton, Ontario (Canada)
3. Brown and Caldwell Consultants, Seattle, WA (United States)

Stripping of volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) during wastewater treatment is of concern due to the potential of these compounds to contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion, ground-level smog formation, chronic toxicity to exposed workers, and odors. A study of the fate of volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) in trickling filters (TF) and rotating biological contactors (RBC) was performed. Of the target compounds investigated, tetrachloroethylene was volatilized to the greatest extent, while 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane was the least volatilized in the TF and bromoform was least volatilized in the RBC. Toulene, o-xylene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene were biodegraded to the greatest extent and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane was least biodegraded. Increasing the hydraulic loading tended to increase the proportion of influent VOCs found in the TF effluent. Imposing effluent recycle on the TF increased the fraction of influent VOCs found in the effluent, but also decreased the fraction stripped and increased the fraction that was biodegraded. Increasing hydraulic loading to the RBC tended to increase the proportion of influent VOCs found in the effluent and off-gas. Increasing the RBC disc rotational speed increased the fraction that was biodegraded and decreased the fraction of VOCs found in the effluent and off-gas streams. The TF tended to have greater losses to volatilization than the RBC while the RBC maintained a greater fraction of the candidate VOCs in the process effluent than the TF. Differences between the processes with respect to biodegradation could not be inferred.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 267981
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 122; ISSN 0733-9372; ISSN JOEEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
BROMOFORM
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PERFORMANCE
TOLUENE
VOLATILE MATTER
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE WATER
XYLENES