Removal of NH3, H2S and Toluene by Biofilters Packed with Rock Wool-Compost Media

Melvin Maaliw Galera; Eulsaeng Cho; Enkhdul Tuuguu; Shin-Jung Park; Danvir Mark Farnazo; Chankyu Jee; Nam Jong Yoo; and Wook-Jin Chung

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.13, No.6, 895-902, November, 2007

Melvin Maaliw Galera, Eulsaeng Cho, Enkhdul Tuuguu, Shin-Jung Park, Danvir Mark Farnazo, Chankyu Jee, Nam Jong Yoo¹, and and Wook-Jin Chung^†

Department of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, Myongji University, Gyeonggi-do 449-728, Korea
¹Ilshin Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea

E-mail:

Biofiltration is carried out in packing materials where attached microorganisms degrade the passing contaminant. In this work, a new packing material was introduced and evaluated for the treatment of malodorous gases-ammonia and hydrogen sulfide and a volatile organic compound-toluene in three biofilters, BF1, BF2, and BF3, respectively. The new composite rock wool-compost media consisted of rock wool and compost in 70:30 weight ratios. Above 95 % removal efficiencies were obtained as the inlet concentrations of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and toluene were increased up to 155, 150 and 260 ppmv, respectively in the biofilters at an empty bed residence time of ∼65 s. The removal efficiencies in the hydrogen sulfide (BF2) and toluene (BF3) biofilters immediately decreased when the frequency of water irrigation was reduced. However, hydrogen sulfide removal in the BF2 could be improved in some extent by maintaining pH of above 5. Parameters such as pH, microbial count, and pressure drop along the biofilters were also evaluated. The highest elimination capacities obtained from the study were 6.4 g-NH3/m3/h, 12.1 g-H2S/m3/h, and 57.6 g-toluene/m3/h, indicating that the rock wool-compost media can be suitably and effectively applied for biofiltration.

Keywords:biofilter;rock wool;compost;ammonia;hydrogen sulfide;toluene

[References]

Chung YC, Huang C, Tseng CP, J. Biotechnol., 52, 31 (1996)
Shojaosadati SA, Elyasi S, Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 27, 139 (1999)
Zilli M, Del Borghi A, Converti A, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 54(2), 248 (2000)
Devinny JS, Deshusses MA, Webster TS, Biofilter Media, in Biofiltration for Air Pollution Control, pp. 45-48, Lewis Publishers Inc., Boca Raton, FL, USA (1998)
Kim NJ, Hirai M, Shoda M, J. Hazard. Mater., 72, 77 (2000)
Deshusses MA, Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 8, 335 (1997)
Chan AA, Licentiate Thesis, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden (2000)
Eun N, Lam DV, Galera MM, Nisola GM, Son S, Kim SH, Song JH, Chung WJ, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 11(5), 666 (2005)
Wani AH, Lau AK, Branion RMR, J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol., 74(1), 9 (1999)
Lee EY, Cho KS, Han HD, Ryu HW, J. Environ. Qual., 31, 1782 (2002)
Luo J, Lindsey S, Bioresour. Technol., 97(13), 1461 (2006)
Singh RS, Agnihotri SS, Upadhyay SN, Bioresour. Technol., 97(18), 2296 (2006)
Cho KS, Ryu HW, Lee NY, J. Biosci. Bioeng., 90, 25 (2000)
Wang C, Li J, Wang B, Zhang G, Process Biochem., 41, 778 (2006)
APHA, Standard Methods: Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th ed., American Public Health Association, New York (1998)
SSSA Book Series: 5-Methods of Soil Analysis Part 1: Physical and Mineralogical Methods, American Society of Agronomy, Inc. & Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin USA (1986)
Chung YC, Huang CP, Tseng CP, Biotechnol. Prog., 12(6), 773 (1996)
Zilli M, Converti A, Biofilters, p.305, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in Encyclopedia of Bioprocess Technology: Fermentation, Biocatalysis and Bioseparation, M. C. Flickinger and S. W. Drew (eds) (1999)
Giggery MD, Dwinal CA, Pinnette JR, O’Brien MA, in Proc. Odor and Volatile Organic Compound Emission Control for Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Water Environment Federation, pp. 4-29/39, Alexandria VA (1994)
Chen YX, Yin J, Wang KX, Chemosphere, 58, 1023 (2005)
Kapahi R, Gross M, Biocycle, 36, 87 (1995)
Bonnin C, Coriton G, Martin G, VDI Berichte, 1104, 217 (1994)
Yang Y, Allen ER, J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 44, 1315 (1994)
Elias A, Barona A, Arreguy A, Rios J, Aranguiz I, Peas J, Process Biochem., 37, 813 (2002)
Neal AB, Loehr RC, Waste Manage., 20, 59 (2000)
Seed LP, Corsi RL, in Proc. 89th Annual AWMA Meeting, Nashville, TN (1996)
Delhomenie MC, Bibeau L, Heitz M, Chem. Eng. Sci., 57, 4999 (2000)

[Referenced By]

[1] Chung YC, Huang C, Tseng CP, J. Biotechnol., 52, 31 (1996)

[2] Shojaosadati SA, Elyasi S, Resour. Conserv. Recycl., 27, 139 (1999)

[3] Zilli M, Del Borghi A, Converti A, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 54(2), 248 (2000)

[4] Devinny JS, Deshusses MA, Webster TS, Biofilter Media, in Biofiltration for Air Pollution Control, pp. 45-48, Lewis Publishers Inc., Boca Raton, FL, USA (1998)

[5] Kim NJ, Hirai M, Shoda M, J. Hazard. Mater., 72, 77 (2000)

[6] Deshusses MA, Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 8, 335 (1997)

[7] Chan AA, Licentiate Thesis, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden (2000)

[8] Eun N, Lam DV, Galera MM, Nisola GM, Son S, Kim SH, Song JH, Chung WJ, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 11(5), 666 (2005)

[9] Wani AH, Lau AK, Branion RMR, J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol., 74(1), 9 (1999)

[10] Lee EY, Cho KS, Han HD, Ryu HW, J. Environ. Qual., 31, 1782 (2002)

[11] Luo J, Lindsey S, Bioresour. Technol., 97(13), 1461 (2006)

[12] Singh RS, Agnihotri SS, Upadhyay SN, Bioresour. Technol., 97(18), 2296 (2006)

[13] Cho KS, Ryu HW, Lee NY, J. Biosci. Bioeng., 90, 25 (2000)

[14] Wang C, Li J, Wang B, Zhang G, Process Biochem., 41, 778 (2006)

[15] APHA, Standard Methods: Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th ed., American Public Health Association, New York (1998)

[16] SSSA Book Series: 5-Methods of Soil Analysis Part 1: Physical and Mineralogical Methods, American Society of Agronomy, Inc. & Soil Science Society of America, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin USA (1986)

[17] Chung YC, Huang CP, Tseng CP, Biotechnol. Prog., 12(6), 773 (1996)

[18] Zilli M, Converti A, Biofilters, p.305, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in Encyclopedia of Bioprocess Technology: Fermentation, Biocatalysis and Bioseparation, M. C. Flickinger and S. W. Drew (eds) (1999)

[19] Giggery MD, Dwinal CA, Pinnette JR, O’Brien MA, in Proc. Odor and Volatile Organic Compound Emission Control for Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facilities, Water Environment Federation, pp. 4-29/39, Alexandria VA (1994)

[20] Chen YX, Yin J, Wang KX, Chemosphere, 58, 1023 (2005)

[21] Kapahi R, Gross M, Biocycle, 36, 87 (1995)

[22] Bonnin C, Coriton G, Martin G, VDI Berichte, 1104, 217 (1994)

[23] Yang Y, Allen ER, J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 44, 1315 (1994)

[24] Elias A, Barona A, Arreguy A, Rios J, Aranguiz I, Peas J, Process Biochem., 37, 813 (2002)

[25] Neal AB, Loehr RC, Waste Manage., 20, 59 (2000)

[26] Seed LP, Corsi RL, in Proc. 89th Annual AWMA Meeting, Nashville, TN (1996)

[27] Delhomenie MC, Bibeau L, Heitz M, Chem. Eng. Sci., 57, 4999 (2000)