Relationships between biomass, pressure drop, and performance in a polyurethane biofilter.
In biofilters for controlling volatile organic compounds (VOCs), clogging in the filter bed due to overgrowth of biomass causes the deterioration of biofilter performance. In this study, the relationships between biofilter performance, biomass concentration (X), and pressure drop (DeltaP) was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated in a polyurethane (PU) biofilter. Benzene was used as a model VOC. The relationship between DeltaP and X at a moisture content of 80-90% was expressed as log DeltaP (mm H(2)Om(-1))=0.315+3.87 log X (g-dry cell weight (DCW) g-PU(-1)), 0.8<X<2.5. Maximum removal rate (V(m)) for benzene declined with increasing biomass concentration at more than 0.8 g-DCW g-PU(-1), and the following equation was obtained: V(m) (gm(-3)h(-1))=811-261 X (g-DCW g-PU(-1)), 0.8<X<2.5. The quantitative relationships obtained in this study can be applied to assess and optimize PU biofilter performance for long-term operation.
Ryu
Hee Wook
HW
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 156-743, Republic of Korea.
Cho
Kyung-Suk
KS
Chung
Dong Jin
DJ
D001554:Benzene / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005374:Filtration; D007700:Kinetics; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011140:Polyurethanes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D001554:Benzene