title: Effects of gas flow rate, inlet concentration and temperature on the biofiltration of toluene vapors.
abstract: In this work the variation in the elimination capacity of a biofilter as a function of the gas flow and toluene concentration was studied. A bioreactor 0.75 m high x 14.5 cm diameter was used, divided into three equal stages, using compost to support the microorganisms, and sea shells to control the pH. The biofiltration of toluene was evaluated for flows between 0.12 and 0.73 m(3)h(-1) in a concentration range of 1-3.2 gm(-3). It was observed that on increasing the toluene inlet load by 90% (from 37 to 70 gm(3)h(-1)), the conversion by the biofilter varied by only 5% (from 98% to 93%). The biofiltration system used achieved elimination capacities of up to 82 gm(-3)h(-1) for a toluene load of 100 gm(-3)h(-1).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Waste Treatment and Bioenergetics, School of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Manuel Montt 56, Casilla 15-D, Temuco, Chile. avergara@uctemuco.cl
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vergara-Fernández
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lara Molina
authors.forename: Nelson Alarcón
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Pulido
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aroca
mesh_terms: D000392:Air Movements; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005740:Gases; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014050:Toluene / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D014050:Toluene