title: Performance and macrokinetic analysis of biofiltration of toluene and p-xylene mixtures in a conventional biofilter packed with inert material.
abstract: Interactions of toluene and p-xylene in air treatment biofilters packed with an inert filter media were studied. The effect of the inlet load of toluene, p-xylene and mixtures of both compounds on the biodegradation rate was analyzed in three lab-scale biofilters. A maximum elimination capacity (EC) of 26.5 and 40.3 gCm(-3)h(-1) for an inlet load (IL) of 65.6 and 57.8 gCm(-3)h(-1) was obtained for p-xylene and toluene biofilters, respectively. Inhibition of p-xylene biodegradation by the presence of toluene took place when the mixture was treated, whereas the presence of p-xylene had an enhancing effect on the toluene removal efficiency. Specific growth rates (μ) from 0.019 to 0.068 h(-1) were calculated in the mixed biofilter, where the highest values were similar to mixtures with lower p-xylene levels (IL(p-Xyl) 8.84 ± 0.29 gCm(-3)h(-1)). Michaelis-Menten and Haldane type models were fitted to experimental EC for p-xylene and toluene biofilters, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Faculty, University of the Basque Country, Alda Urquijo s/n, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gallastegui
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avalos Ramirez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elías
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heitz
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D014050:Toluene / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; C031286:4-xylene