Treatment of BTEX and petroleum hydrocarbon vapors using a field-pilot biofilter

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:49347

Togna, A P; Skladany, G J ^[1]

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1. Envirogen, Inc., Lawrenceville, NJ (United States)

Vapor extraction has been shown to be an effective means of remediating hydrocarbon-contaminated sods and groundwater at hazardous waste sites and at facilities with leaking underground storage tanks. However, the hydrocarbon-contaminated vapors produced from these operations often must be treated before being discharged to the atmosphere. To help fill the need for economic, design, and regulatory compliance data, a field-pilot biofilter containing 30 ft{sup 3} of packing acclimated for six months on actual SVE vapors was used to evaluate the effectiveness of using biofiltration to treat air contaminated with gasoline at concentrations observed during the operation of actual SVE systems. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) as well as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) removal efficiencies were determined for a range of TPH concentrations up to 4,500 ppmv methane equivalents (180 ppmv benzene equivalents using an HNU photoionization analyzer) at vapor contact times of 30 seconds to 6 minutes. Benzene and BTEX removal efficiencies up to 95 and 90 percent respectively, were observed at vapor contact times as low as 1 minute. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal efficiencies of 75 to 85 percent were observed at vapor contact times of 3 to 6 minutes.

• OSTI ID: 49347
• Report Number(s): CONF-941189--; ISBN 1-56590-016-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIODEGRADATION
DEGASSING
EXHAUST GASES
IN-SITU PROCESSING
OIL SPILLS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TOLUENE
WASTE PROCESSING
XYLENES