Development of foamed emulsion bioreactor for air pollution control.
A new type of bioreactor for air pollution control has been developed. The new process relies on an organic-phase emulsion and actively growing pollutant-degrading microorganisms, made into a foam with the air being treated. This new reactor is referred to as a foamed emulsion bioreactor (FEBR). As there is no packing in the reactor, the FEBR is not subject to clogging. Mathematical modeling of the process and proof of concept using a laboratory prototype revealed that the foamed emulsion bioreactor greatly surpasses the performance of existing gas-phase bioreactors. Experimental results showed a toluene elimination capacity as high as 285 g(toluene) m(-3) (reactor) h(-1) with a removal efficiency of 95% at a gas residence time of 15 s and a toluene inlet concentration of 1-1.3 g x m(-3). Oxygen limited the reactor performance at toluene concentration above about 0.7-1.0 g x m(-3); consequently, performance was significantly improved when pure oxygen was added to the contaminated air. The elimination capacity increased from 204 to 408 g x m(-3) h(-1) with >77% toluene removal at toluene inlet concentrations of 2-2.2 g x m(-3). Overall, the results show that the performance of the FEBR far exceeds that of currently used bioreactors for air pollution control.
Kan
Eunsung
E
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, USA.
Deshusses
Marc A
MA
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D012828:Silicones / Q000494:pharmacology; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014050:Toluene / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004655:Emulsions; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D012828:Silicones; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C010268:oleyl alcohol; D014050:Toluene; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen