Ethene removal from a synthetic waste gas using a dry biobed

Journal Article · Sat Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 1994 · Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260440511· OSTI ID:7243290

De Heyder, B; Overmeire, A; Van Langenhove, H; Verstraete, W ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Gent (Belgium)

A packed granular activated carbon (GAC) biobed, inoculated with the ethene-degrading strain Mycobacterium E3, was used to study ethene removal from a synthetic waste gas. Ethene, for which the dimensionless partition coefficient for an air-water system at 20C is about 7.6, was used as a model compound for poorly water soluble gaseous pollutants. In a first mode of operation, the GAC biobed was sprinkled intermittently and the waste gas influent was continuously pre-humidified, establishing relatively moist conditions. A volumetric ethene removal rate of 0.382 kg COD [center dot] m[sup [minus]3] [center dot] d[sup [minus]1] was obtained for an influent concentration of 125 ppm, a superficial waste gas velocity of 3.6E-3 m [center dot] s[sup [minus]1] and a pseudo residence time of 45 s. However, in the second mode of operation, omitting the pre-humidification of the waste gas influent and establishing a dry'' biobed and thus obtaining better mass transfer to the biofilm, the ethene removal could be doubled for otherwise comparable operating parameters. Furthermore, under decreased wetting and for the given experimental conditions, the ethene removal was not limited by mass transfer of ethene through the water layer covering the biofilm.

• OSTI ID: 7243290
• Journal Information: Biotechnology and Bioengineering; (United States), Vol. 44:5; ISSN 0006-3592
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ETHYLENE
BIODEGRADATION
GASEOUS WASTES
WASTE PROCESSING
MYCOBACTERIUM
GROWTH
BIOREACTORS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
ALKENES
BACTERIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
HYDROCARBONS
MANAGEMENT
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology