Temperature effects of trickle-bed biofilter for treating BTEX vapors

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Journal of Environmental Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1999)125:8(775)· OSTI ID:680119

Lu, C; Chu, C ^[1]; Lin, M R ^[2]

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1. National Chung Hsing Univ., Taichung (Taiwan, Province of China). Dept. of Environmental Engineering
2. National Taichung Teacher`s Coll. (Taiwan, Province of China). Dept. of Mathematical and Science Education

Effects of temperature change in the range of 15--50 C on the performance of a trickle-bed biofilter for treating benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene (BTEX) vapors in air streams were investigated. In the steady-state condition, the BTEX removal efficiency increased as the operating temperature increased in the range of 15--30 C. However, an opposite trend was observed between 30 and 50 C. The trickle-bed biofilter appears to be an effective treatment process in the temperature range of 25--35 C. The microscopic observations showed that the morphologies of the leading microorganisms within the first-stage biofilm were rod-shaped bacteria in association with filaments, bacilli, and cocci at 15, 30, and 50 C, respectively. A theoretical evaluation on the temperature coefficient ({theta}) indicated that the temperature effects on the performance of a trickle-bed biofilter are more significant under lower BTEX loading rates. Furthermore, the mean {theta} value for a trickle-bed biofilter was equal to 1.021, which is in the typical range of some commonly used aerobic processes (1.0--1.10).

• OSTI ID: 680119
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 125; 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 CONTROL
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIODEGRADATION
FILTERS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TOLUENE
XYLENES