Biodegradation of styrene laden waste gas stream using a compost-based biofilter.
Biological treatment of waste gas styrene vapor was investigated in a three-stage bench-scale biofilter. Yard waste compost mixed with shredded hard plastics in a 25:75 v/v ratio of plastics:compost was inoculated with thickened municipal activated sludge. Microbial acclimation to styrene was achieved by exposing the system to an inlet concentration (C(In)) of 0.25 gm(-3) styrene and an empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 360 s for 30 days. Under steady-state conditions, maximum elimination capacity (EC) obtained was 45 gm(-3)h(-1) at a loading rate (L) of 60 gm(-3)h(-1) (C(In) of 2 gm(-3) and EBRT of 120 s). Reduction of retention time adversely impacted the performance resulting in the maximum EC of 39 and 27 gm(-3)h(-1) for EBRT of 60 and 30 s, respectively. Evaluation of the concentration profile along the bed height indicated dominance of first-order kinetics at C(In) < or = 0.45 gm(-3) and zero-order for higher concentrations.
Dehghanzadeh
Reza
R
Department of Environmental Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. r_dehghanzadeh@yahoo.com
Torkian
Ayoob
A
Bina
Bijan
B
Poormoghaddas
Hoosien
H
Kalantary
Ardashir
A
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D005374:Filtration; D007700:Kinetics; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D020058:Styrene / Q000032:analysis*; D014835:Volatilization
D000393:Air Pollutants; D012722:Sewage; D020058:Styrene