| Title: | Treatment of benzene and n-hexane mixtures in trickle-bed air biofilters |
| Address: | "Environmental Engineering Program, School of Energy, Environmental, Biological, and Medical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.3155/1047-3289.61.2.201 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1096-2247 (Print) 1096-2247 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Trickle-bed air biofilters (TBABs) are suitable for treatment of hydrophilic volatile organic compounds, but they pose a challenge for hydrophobic compounds. Three laboratory-scale TBABs were used for the treatment of an airstream contaminated with different ratios of n-hexane and benzene mixtures. The ratios studied were 1:1, 2:1, and 1:3 n-hexane:benzene by volume. Each TBAB was operated at a pH of 4 and a temperature of 20 degrees C. The use of acidic-buffered nutrient solution was targeted for changing the microorganism consortium to fungi as the main biodegradation element. The experimental plan was designed to investigate the long-term performance of the TBABs with an emphasis on different mixture loading rates, removal efficiency with TBAB depth, volatile suspended solids, and carbon mass balance closure. n-Hexane loading rate was kept constant in the TBABs for comparison reasons and ranged from 4 to 22 g/(m3 x hr). Corresponding benzene loadings ranged from 4 to 43 g/(m3 x hr). Generally, benzene behavior in the TBAB was superior to that of n-hexane because of its higher solubility. n-Hexane showed improved performance in the 2:1 mixing ratio as compared with the other two ratios" |
| Keywords: | Air Pollutants/*isolation & purification Benzene/*isolation & purification Carbon Dioxide/analysis Filtration Fungi Hexanes/*isolation & purification Volatile Organic Compounds/*isolation & purification; |
| Notes: | "MedlineHassan, Ashraf Aly Serial, George A eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2011/03/11 J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2011 Feb; 61(2):201-10. doi: 10.3155/1047-3289.61.2.201" |
