title: Removal of toluene vapour using agro-waste as biofilter media.
abstract: Biodegradation of toluene vapour was investigated in a laboratory scale biofilter packed with cylindrical pieces of yellow-gram (Cajanus cajan) stalk. Inlet concentrations and volumetric flow rates of toluene were varied from 2.56 to 34.73 g/m3 and 0.18 to 0.24 m3/h, respectively. The steady state was achieved within seven days and the degradation of toluene followed an exponential behaviour with time. Elimination capacity increased and tended towards a constant value but removal efficiency decreased with increase in inlet toluene loading. Depending upon loading rate, the process was either mass transfer or reaction-controlled.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Centre of Advanced Study, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Agnihotri
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Upadhyay
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D036561:Cajanus / Q000382:microbiology*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D016062:Porosity; D011312:Pressure; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism*; D014866:Waste Products
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D014866:Waste Products; D014050:Toluene