title: Characterization of compost biofiltration system degrading dichloromethane.
abstract: The effects of acclimatization of microbial populations, compound concentration, and media pH on the biodegradation of low concentration dichloromethane emissions in biofiltration systems was evaluated. Greater than 98% removal efficiency was achieved for dichloromethane at superficial velocities from 1 to 1.5 m(3)/m(3). min (reactor residence times of 1 and 0.7 min, respectively) and inlet concentrations of 3 and 50 ppm Although acclimatization of microbial populations to toluene occurred within 2 weeks of operation start-up, initial dichloromethane acclimatization took place over a period of 10 weeks. This period was shortened to 10 days when a laboratory grown consortium of dichloromethane degrading organism, isolated from a previously acclimatized column, was introduced into fresh biofilter media. The mixed culture consisted to 12 members, which together were able to degrade dichloromethane at concentrations up to 500 mg/L. Only one member of the consortium was able to degrade dichloromethane were sustained for more than 4 months in a biofilter column receiving an inlet gas stream with 3 ppm(v) of dichloromethane acidification of the column and resulting decline in performance occurred when a 50-ppm(v) inlet concentration was used. A biofilm model incorporating first order biodegradation kinetics provided a good fit to observed concentration profiles, and may prove to be a useful tool for designing biofiltration systems for low concentration VOC emissions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ergas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Scow