Odor abatement in biotrickling filters: effect of the EBRT on methyl mercaptan and hydrophobic VOCs removal

Bioresour Technol. 2012 Apr:109:38-45. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.01.052. Epub 2012 Jan 21.

Abstract

The performance and microbiology of a biotrickling filter (BTF) treating methyl mercaptan, toluene, alpha-pinene and hexane at the mg m(-3) level was studied at empty bed residence times (EBRT) of 50, 30, 11 and 7 s. Removal efficiencies (REs) higher than 95% were observed for MeSH, toluene and alpha-pinene even at 11 s, while hexane REs exceeded 70%. At 7 s, an irreversible damage of the microbial activity due to the accumulation of toxic metabolites resulted in a decrease of REs. The addition of silicone stabilized process performance but only re-inoculation allowed achieving a complete removal of MeSH, toluene and alpha-pinene, and hexane REs of 80%. The high K(L)a values (ranging from 38 ± 4 to 90 ± 11 h(-1)) explained the good BTF performance at such low EBRTs. A high bacterial diversity, along with a vertical distribution of the bacterial communities was observed, the main phyla being Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Nitrospira, Chloroflexi and Gemmatimonadertes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Carbon Dioxide / analysis
  • Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile / isolation & purification*
  • Filtration / instrumentation*
  • Filtration / methods*
  • Hexanes / analysis
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions*
  • Monoterpenes / analysis
  • Odorants / analysis*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / isolation & purification*
  • Time Factors
  • Toluene / analysis

Substances

  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes
  • Fatty Acids, Volatile
  • Hexanes
  • Monoterpenes
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • n-hexane
  • methylmercaptan
  • Toluene
  • alpha-pinene