title: Optimization of nutrient supply in a downflow gas-phase biofilter packed with an inert carrier.
abstract: Several methodologies were tested to supply nutrients to a downflow biofilter packed with perlite and used to treat toluene-polluted air. Despite the presence of an inorganic carrier, elimination capacities of up to around 60 g/m(3) per hour could be maintained when a basal medium, containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, was supplied once every fortnight or even once a month rather than once a week. Experimental results also indicated that the addition of vitamins or trace minerals to the basal aqueous medium hardly improved biofilter performance. Furthermore, the nutrient supply could be combined with a biomass control strategy, using air sparging, without any adverse effect on biofilter performance compared to supplying nutrients alone, and limiting the accumulation of excess biomass on the packing material. The performance of the biofilter was not significantly affected by temperature fluctuations between 25 and 33 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of La Coruña, Campus da Zapateira, 15071-La Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kennes
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism*; D005740:Gases; D008925:Mites / Q000502:physiology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D003470:Culture Media; D005740:Gases; D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins; C003076:Perlite; D014050:Toluene; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D000537:Aluminum Oxide