Biofiltration of volatile organic compound using two packing materials: Kinetics and modelling

摘要

The performance of two laboratory scale biofilters, packed with pressmud (BF1) and sugarcane bagasse (BF2), was evaluated for gas phase ethylacetate removal under various operating conditions. Biofilters were inoculated with mixed culture obtained from pharmaceutical wastewater sludge. Experiments were carried out at different flow rates (0.03, 0.06, 0.09 and 0.12 m3 h−1) and inlet ethylacetate concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 1.2 gm−3). Maximum removal efficiency (RE) of 100% and 98% was achieved at an inlet concentration of 0.2 gm−3 and gas flow rate of 0.03 m3 h−1 in BF1 and BF2, respectively. A maximum elimination capacity (EC) of 66.6 gm−3 h−1 and 64.1 gm−3 h−1 was obtained in BF1 and BF2, respectively, at an inlet concentration of 0.8 gm−3 and a gas flow rate of 0.12 m3 h−1. The kinetics of biofiltration of ethylacetate was studied by using Ottengraf and van den Oever model. The kinetic modelling gives an insight into the mechanism of biofiltration. The modified Ottengraf model, which was also tested, demonstrated good agreement between calculated and experimental data.