Characterization of a compost biofiltration system degrading dichloromethane
- Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
The effects of acclimatization of microbial populations, compound concentration, and media pH on the biodegradation of low concentration dichloromethane emissions in biofiltration systems was evaluated. Greater than 98% removal efficiency was achieved for dichloromethane at superficial velocities from 1 to 15 m[sup 3]/m[sup 2][center dot]min and inlet concentrations of 3 and 50 ppm[sub v]. Although acclimatization of microbial populations to toluene occurred within 2 weeks of operation start-up, initial dichloromethane acclimatization took place over a period of 10 weeks. This period was shortened to 10 days when a laboratory grown consortium of dichloromethane degrading organisms, isolated from a previously acclimatized column, was introduced into fresh biofilter media. The mixed culture consisted of 12 members, which together were able to degrade dichloromethane at concentrations up to 500 mg/L. Only one member of the consortium was able to degrade dichloromethane in pure culture, and the presence of the other members did not affect the rate of biodegradation in solution culture. Although high removal efficiencies for dichloromethane were sustained for more than 4 months in a biofilter column receiving an inlet gas stream with 3 ppm[sub v] of dichloromethane, acidification of the column and resulting decline in performance occurred when a 50-ppm[sub v] inlet concentration was used. A biofilm model incorporating first order biodegradation kinetics provided a good fit to observed concentration profiles, and may prove to be a useful tool for designing biofiltration systems for low concentration VOC emissions.
- OSTI ID:
- 6918213
- Journal Information:
- Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States), Vol. 44:9; ISSN 0006-3592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
BIODEGRADATION
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
BIOREACTORS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
WASTES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)