Treatment of a No.2 fuel oil contaminated air stream using a biofilter - an effective and cost saving alternative

摘要

Treating an air stream that has been contaminated with No.2 fuel oil with a biofilter presents an attractive low-cost remedial option. Sustained removal rates between 75% and 80% as measured by the PID, and 77% to 96% as measured by the OVA FID were obtained during the experiment. One study estimated the costs associated with treating an air stream that had been contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbon vapors. Biofiltration was estimated to be approximately 45% less expensive than catalytic oxidation and 75% less than carbon adsorption [9]. Beyond cost savings, a biofilter offers the opportunity for the consumer to truly remove the contaminant from the air stream and not just transport it to another medium. Research is ongoing with this biofilter set-up to determine the effects of altering air flow rates, replacing the fuel oil, and altering the biofilter wetting frequency will have on the overall efficiency of the system. Microbial studies are being conducted to determine what petroleum degrading microorganisms are present in the compost before, during, and after this process. Petroleum degrading microorganisms will be identified and cultured for use to innoculate other experiments. Lastly, additional studies are being conducted on the exact cause of compost breakdown in the biofilter.