title: Biofiltration of ammonia gas with sponge cubes coated with mixtures of activated carbon and zeolite.
abstract: Removal of ammonia gas was investigated using a biofilter system packed with small cubes of polyurethane sponge that were coated with a powder mixture of activated carbon and natural zeolite. Experimental tests and measurements include removal efficiency, pH, metabolic products of ammonia and kinetic analysis. A removal efficiency over 90% can be obtained with ammonia concentrations below 150 ppm and at contact times above 23 sec.The ammonia adsorbing power of the present biocarrier can protect the biofilter system from a high ammonia shock loading in the feed. The maximum removal rate, Vm, obtained from the kinetic analysis is 8.47 g N (kg carrier)(-1) day(-1) and the saturation constant Ks is 50.36 ppm. Nitrite is produced dominantly during the entire experiments. The cell number of nitrifying bacteria is 1.58 x 10( cell (g carrier)(-1). The present synthetic bio-carrier is considered to be one of the best among bio-carriers that have been used for the biofiltration of ammonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering/School of Environmental Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Y J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D011140:Polyurethanes; D017641:Zeolites; D002606:Charcoal; D000641:Ammonia; C028279:polyurethane foam