Title: | Effect of surfactin on removal of semi-volatile organic compound: Emphasis on enhanced biofiltration performance |
Address: | "Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA. Electronic address: george.sorial@uc.edu" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110532 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1096-0953 (Electronic) 0013-9351 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The performance of a lab-scale biotrickling filter (BTF) inoculated with a mixed fungal consortium was investigated for the simultaneous abatement of 2-ethylhexanol; a hydrophobic semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC), and propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME). The BTF performance was investigated in the presence of lipopeptide-type biosurfactant, surfactin. The effect of surfactin on the removal efficiency and elimination capacity was examined at stretched inlet loading rates (LR): 1.04 to 15.7 and 3.2-48 g m(-3) h(-1) of PGME and 2-ethylhexanol, respectively. Seeding the BTF with 50 mg L(-1) of surfactin maintained high and consistent removal efficiencies of PGME and 2-ethylhexanol up to LRs of 15.7 and 32 g m(-3) h(-1), with removal efficiencies of 98.5 and 99%, respectively. Once the LR of 2-ethylhexanol increased to 48 g m(-3) h(-1), a substrate inhibition was observed, accompanied by a sudden decrease in removal efficiency from 99.2 to 62.3%. At the same LR, the BTF performance was improved by reseeding 100 mg L(-1) of surfactin, hence, reinstated the removal efficiency of 2-ethylhexanol to 92.7% and achieving a maximum elimination capacity of 44.5 g m(-3) h(-1). This enhanced SVOC uptake rate was further confirmed by a considerable increase in reaction rate constant from 0.005 to 0.017 s(-1). A batch study was also conducted at the end of the experimental run to better understand the correlation between surfactin concentrations and the time-dependent partition coefficient of 2-ethylhexanol. Biofilm microbial community structure revealed relative abundancy of 72 and 28% of Trichoderma asperellum and Fusarium solani, respectively. The findings of this study show for the first time that the removal of a semi-VOC such as 2-ethylhexanol is feasible in the presence of surfactin and hence improving the bioavailability of hydrophobic semi-VOC" |
Keywords: | "*Air Pollutants/analysis Biodegradation, Environmental Bioreactors Filtration Fusarium Hypocreales *Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Biosurfactant Biotrickling filter Fungi Semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) Surfactin;" |
Notes: | "MedlineDewidar, Assem A Sorial, George A eng Netherlands 2020/11/30 Environ Res. 2021 Feb; 193:110532. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110532. Epub 2020 Nov 27" |