Single Contaminants 0
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TBAB Biofiltration System

Single VOCs

Objectives: The performance of a TBAB under periodic stressed operating conditions was investigated as a function of contaminant loading rates of single VOCs: Toluene, Styrene, Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). These contaminants are common solvents employed in the industry and are major components of paints and varnishes. The goal was to evaluate the effect of backwashing and non use periods (i.e, shutdown for equipment repair or during weekends and holidays) on the performance of a TBAB for long-term operation.

Conclusion and Summary: TBAB employed in this study provided superior performance for decontaminating VOC polluted air.

  • Consistent long-term efficient performance of TBAB strongly depended on biomass control. A periodic in situ upflow nutrient solution under fluidization, i.e., backwashing, was found to be effective biomass control strategy.
  • Non-use periods could be adopted as another means of the biomass control. However, at high loading rates, accumulation of excess biomass caused a decrease in biofilter performance.
  • After restart-up following backwashing and non-use periods, the reacclimation period to reach a 99 % removal efficiency elongated to more than ten hours as the VOCs loading rates was increased.
  • For an increase in VOCs loading rate, the acclimation period to reach a 99 % removal efficiency in the biofilter elongated to period of a number of days.
  • The biofilters removed oxygenated compounds (MEK & MIBK) at a much high removal rate and removal capacity as compared with aromatic compounds (Toluene & Styrene). The elimination of VOCs in the biofilter was strongly correlated with physicochemical properties of these compounds (Solubility, Octanol-water partition coefficient, & Henry’s law coefficient).
  • For complying with air regulation consistently, development of novel treatment technology is significant to overcome erratic performance of the biofilter during transient loads.

Publications and Conferences for Removal of Single VOCs

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Cai, Z., Kim, D., and Sorial, G.A., “Evaluation of Trickle Bed Air Biofilter Performance for MEK Removal,“ Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2004, 114(1-3), 153-18

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Evaluation of Trickle Bed Air Biofilter Performance under Periodic Stressed Operating Conditions as a Function of Styrene Loading,“ Journal of Air and Waste Management Association, 2005, 55(2), 200-209

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Behavior of Trickle Bed Air Biofilter for Toluene Removal: Effect of Non-use Periods,” Environmental Progress, 2005, 22(3), 324-336.

Cai, Z., Kim, D., and Sorial, G.A., “Removal of Methyl Isobutyl Ketone from Contaminated Air by Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter," ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2005, 24(2), 155-161.

Cai, Z., Kim, D., and Sorial, G.A., “Performance of Trickle-Bed air Biofilter under Adverse Operating Conditions; A Comparative Study of A Hydrophilic and a Hydrophobic Contaminant”, Journal of Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Focus , 2006, 6(1-2), 57-69

Kim, D., and Sorial, G.A., “ Role of Biological Activity and Biomass Distribution in Air Biofilter Performance,” Chemosphere, 2007, 66(9), 1758-1764.

PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Kim, D., Cai, Z., Sorial, G., Tallin, S., and Meunier, J., “Characterization of Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter Performance for Removal of VOCs under Stressed Operating Conditions,” in proceedings of the 2004 NSF Design, Service, and Manufacturing Grantees and Research Conference held in Dallas, Texas, Jan 5-8, 2004.

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Behavior of Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter for VOCs Removal: Effect of Non-Use Periods,” in proceedings of the AIChE Spring National Meeting held in New Orleans , Louisiana , April 25-29, 2004 .

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Evaluation of Trickle Bed Air Biofilter Performance for Removal of Paint Booth VOCs under Stressed Operating Conditions,” in proceedings of the 97 th A&WMA Annual Conference and Exhibition, Indianapolis, Indiana, June 22-25, 2004.

Cai, Z., Kim, D., and Sorial, G.A., “Performance of Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter under Adverse Operating Conditions: A Comparative Study of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Contaminants,” in proceedings of the 36 th Mid-Atlantic Industrial & Hazardous Waste Conference, Storrs , Connecticut , October 8-10, 2004 .

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Kim, D., Cai, Z., Sorial, G., Tallin, S., and Meunier, J., “Characterization of Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter Performance for Removal of VOCs under Stressed Operating Conditions,” presented at the 2004 NSF Design, Service, and Manufacturing Grantees and Research Conference held in Dallas, Texas, Jan 5-8, 2004.

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Behavior of Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter for VOCs Removal: Effect of Non-Use Periods,” presented at AIChE Spring National Meeting held in New Orleans , Louisiana , April 25-29, 2004 .

Kim, D., Cai, Z., and Sorial, G.A., “Evaluation of Trickle Bed Air Biofilter Performance for Removal of Paint Booth VOCs under Stressed Operating Conditions,” presented at the 97 th A&WMA Annual Conference and Exhibition, Indianapolis , Indiana , June 22-25, 2004 .

Cai, Z., Kim, D., Sorial, G.A., Performance of Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter under Adverse Operating Conditions: A Comparative Study of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Contaminants, the 36 th Mid-Atlantic Industrial & Hazardous Waste Conference, Storrs, Connecticut, October 8-10, 2004.

Ph.D. DISSERTATIONS

Kim, D., “Development of Integrated Scheme of Adsorption and Biofilter for VOCs Control,” Ph.D. Dissertation, 2006, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA. (Presentation Slides)

 

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