title: Removal of volatile organic compounds at extreme shock-loading using a scaled-up pilot rotating drum biofilter.
abstract: A pilot-scale rotating drum biofilter (RDB), which is a novel biofilter design that offers flexible flow-through configurations, was used to treat complex and variable volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, including shock loadings, emanating from paint drying operations at an Army ammunition plant. The RDB was seeded with municipal wastewater activated sludge. Removal efficiencies up to 86% and an elimination capacity of 5.3 g chemical oxygen demand (COD) m(-3) hr(-1) were achieved at a filter-medium contact time of 60 sec. Efficiency increased at higher temperatures that promote higher biological activity, and decreased at lower pH, which dropped down to pH 5.5 possibly as a result of carbon dioxide and volatile fatty acid production and ammonia consumption during VOC degradation. In comparison, other studies have shown that a bench-scale RDB could achieve a removal efficiency of 95% and elimination capacity of 331 g COD m(-3) hr(-1). Sustainable performance of the pilot-scale RDB was challenged by the intermittent nature of painting operations, which typically resulted in 3-day long shutdown periods when bacteria were not fed. This challenge was overcome by adding sucrose (2 g/L weekly) as an auxiliary substrate to sustain metabolic activity during shutdown periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Russell A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sawvel
authors.forename: Byung
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Pedro J J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D005742:Gasoline / Q000032:analysis*; D007221:Industry; D011786:Quality Control; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005742:Gasoline; D001335:Vehicle Emissions