Biofilters remove VOCs from stack gases
Weyerhaeuser's strandboard plant in Grayling, Mich., is using biofiltration to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at the site. Primary constituents in the Weyerhaeuser stack gases are alcohols, aldehydes, organic acids, benzene and toluene. The alternative to biofiltration is incineration, but because the concentration of VOCs in the stack gases is so dilute, natural gas would be required. Incineration would be costly, and could introduce pollution problems by generating excess carbon dioxide (CO[sub 2]) and possibly nitrogen oxides. Two pilot biofilters, each about 20ft by 100ft in area, with 4-ft thick media of bark and ground trim ends, are using naturally occurring bacteria to destroy VOCs emanating from a wood panel press and a wood flake dryer. The press offgas biofilter, activated February 1993, had risen to 93% efficiency in removing VOCs by mid-May. The flake dryer exhaust biofilter, placed in service in April, already was more than 80% efficient.
- OSTI ID:
- 5764637
- Journal Information:
- Pollution Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: Pollution Engineering; (United States) Vol. 25:15; ISSN PLENBW; ISSN 0032-3640
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
STACK DISPOSAL
TOLUENE
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT