title: Polyurethane foam based biofilter media for toluene removal.
abstract: Polyurethane foam medium was manufactured and analyzed to determine its suitability as a solid support medium for use in gas-phase biofilters. Physical and chemical studies were conducted to determine the medium's characteristics. The medium's ability to support an active biofilm capable of degrading volatile organic compounds was assessed using a laboratory scale biofilter fed a model waste stream containing toluene for more than 250 days with empty bed residence times (EBRTs) ranging from two to four minutes. Results are presented that show how a polyurethane foam medium with high porosity, suitable pore size, low density, and an ability to sorb water was able to remove over 99% of the influent toluene when fed at a concentration of 200 ppm. An operating strategy is described which effectively prevented two problems common to conventionally operated biofilter systems: nutrient limitations and biosolid accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-6405, USA.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Moe
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Irvine
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000382:microbiology; D014050:Toluene / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D014050:Toluene; C028279:polyurethane foam