title: Gaseous dimethyl sulphide removal in a membrane biofilm reactor: effect of methanol on reactor performance.
abstract: In this study, removal of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) vapours in a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) and the effect of the presence of methanol (MeOH) is reported. Results obtained from continuous flow experiments showed that MeOH had a positive effect (maximum 1.3 times higher) on DMS biodegradation. A decrease in MBfR performance was observed during periods without MeOH addition, indicating that MeOH addition is necessary to sustain high DMS removal rates in the MBfR. In this study, a maximum elimination capacity (EC) of 6.2 kg DMS m(-3) d(-1) was observed at an optimum MeOH dose of 1.1-2.3 g m(-3). The observed EC is higher than any reported previously for biofilters or biotrickling filters. Thus, MBfR is a promising technology and can be used for the treatment of mixture of compounds operated under optimum ratios.
authors.affiliation: EnVOC Research Group, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Titus
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chilongo
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dewulf
authors.forename: Sarina J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ergas
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Langenhove
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D005374:Filtration; D005740:Gases / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D020582:Hyphomicrobium / Q000378:metabolism; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013440:Sulfides; C004784:dimethyl sulfide; D000432:Methanol