Denitrification and nitric oxide reduction in an aerobic toluene-treating biofilter

Journal Article · Wed May 20 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Biotechnology and Bioengineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(19980520)58:4<408::AID-BIT8>3.0.CO;2-N· OSTI ID:619425

Plessis, C.A. du; Kinney, K A; Schroeder, E D; Chang, D P.Y.; Scow, K M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)

The presence of significant denitrification activity in an aerobic toluene-treating biofilter was demonstrated under batch and flow-through conditions. N{sub 2}O concentrations of 9.2 ppm{sub v} were produced by denitrifying bacteria in the presence of 15% acetylene, in a flow-through system with a bulk gas phase O{sub 2} concentration of >17%. The carbon source for denitrification was not toluene but a byproduct or metabolite of toluene catabolism. Denitrification conditions were successfully used for the reduction of 60 ppm{sub v} nitric oxide to 15 ppm{sub v} at a flow rate of 3 L/min (EBRT of 3 min) in a fully aerated, 17%/v/v O{sub 2} (superficially aerobic) biofilter. Higher NO removal efficiency (97%) was obtained by increasing the toluene supply to the biofilter.

• Sponsoring Organization: National Inst. of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 619425
• Journal Information: Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Journal Name: Biotechnology and Bioengineering Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 58; ISSN BIBIAU; ISSN 0006-3592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
NITRIC OXIDE
PERFORMANCE
REDUCTION
TOLUENE