Behavior of trickle bed air biofilter for VOCs removal: Effect of non-use periods

Daekeun Kim, Zhangli Cai, George A. Sorial

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Biofiltration has recently emerged as an attractive option for controlling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission. The objective of this work is to study the effect of non-use periods on biofilter performance. Two different non-use periods were investigated in order to mimic periods of repair of equipment or shutdown during weekend and holidays. In this research, trickle bed air biofilter (TBABs) with synthetic, inorganic media for microbial attachment was employed for VOC control from an air stream. VOC loading varied from 0.70 to 7.03 kg COD/m 3·day. Consistent long term efficient performance of biofilter strongly depended on biomas control. A periodic in-situ upflow washing (backwashing) was approached in this study. For 0.70, 1.41, and 3.52 kg COD/m 3·day, the biofilter provided the 99% VOC removal efficiency level by conducting backwashing at a rate of 1 hour per week. When the non-use period strategies were conducted, the overall VOC removal efficiency remained at the 99% range without backwashing for loading rates of 0.70 and 1.41 kg COD/m 3·day. While for a loading rate of 3.52 kg COD/m 3·day, it dropped occasionally below 90 % due to the accumulation of excess biomass. The non-use period can be considered as another means of biomass control for low VOC loadings (0.70 and 1.41 kg COD/m 3·day), however, at high VOC loading (>3.52 kg COD/m 3·day), backwashing deemed to be necessary. The biofilter response after restart-up following the non-use period was different as compared to the response after backwashing. The biofilter response after restart-up following the non-use period is a strong function of the active biomass in the system. In this paper, kinetics analysis is presented for comparing the reaction rates for each experimental strategy considered.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2004 AIChE Spring National Meeting, Conference Proceedings
Pages2432-2438
Number of pages7
StatePublished - 2004
Event2004 AIChE Spring National Meeting, Conference Proceedings - New Orleans, LA, United States
Duration: 25 Apr 200429 Apr 2004

Publication series

Name2004 AIChE Spring National Meeting, Conference Proceedings

Conference

Conference2004 AIChE Spring National Meeting, Conference Proceedings
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans, LA
Period25/04/0429/04/04

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