Title: | Biofiltration of ethylbenzene vapours: influence of the packing material |
Author(s): | Alvarez-Hornos FJ; Gabaldon C; Martinez-Soria V; Martin M; Marzal P; Penya-Roja JM; |
Address: | "Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Valencia, Dr Moliner, 50, 46100, Burjassot, Spain" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.12.022 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0960-8524 (Print) 0960-8524 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "In order to investigate suitable packing materials, a soil amendment composed of granular high mineralized peat (35% organic content) locally available has been evaluated as carrier material for biofiltration of volatile organic compounds in air by comparison with a fibrous peat (95% organic content). Both supports were tested to eliminate ethylbenzene from air streams in laboratory-scale reactors inoculated with a two-month conditioned culture. In pseudo-steady state operation, experiments at various ethylbenzene inlet loads (ILs) were carried out. Maximum elimination capacity of about 120 g m(-3) h(-1) for an IL of 135 g m(-3) h(-1) was obtained for the fibrous peat. The soil amendment reactor achieved a maximum elimination capacity of about 45 g m(-3) h(-1) for an inlet load of 55 g m(-3) h(-1). Ottengraf-van den Oever model was applied to the prediction of the performance of both biofilters. The influence of gas flow rate was also studied: the fibrous peat reactor kept near complete removal efficiency for empty bed residence times greater than 1 min. For the soil amendment reactor, an empty bed residence time greater than 2 min was needed to achieve adequate removal efficiency. Concentration profiles along the biofilter were also compared: elimination occurred in the whole fibrous peat biofilter, while in the soil amendment reactor the biodegradation only occurred in the first 65% part of the biofilter. Results indicated that soil amendment material, previously selected to increase the organic content, would have potential application as biofilter carrier to treat moderate VOC inlet loads" |
Keywords: | "Benzene Derivatives/*isolation & purification Filtration/instrumentation/*methods Models, Theoretical Soil/*analysis Spain;" |
Notes: | "MedlineAlvarez-Hornos, F J Gabaldon, C Martinez-Soria, V Martin, M Marzal, P Penya-Roja, J M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2007/02/24 Bioresour Technol. 2008 Jan; 99(2):269-76. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.12.022. Epub 2007 Feb 20" |