title: Performance evaluation and effect of biogas circulation rate of a bubble column for biological desulfurization.
abstract: Biological desulfurization using a bubble column reactor was investigated in a continuous biogas treatment. Rapid biogas circulation between the digester and the bubble column for biological desulfurization was used to stimulate the gas-liquid mass transfer of H(2)S. A positive correlation between the biogas circulation rate and H(2)S removal rate was observed. Moreover, the increase in the circulation rate stimulated the O(2) mass transfer, eventually translating into an increase in sulfate production from the oxidation of H(2)S. Throughout the continuous experiment, the reactor retained sufficient levels of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria. A comparison of the results of the continuous biogas treatment and batch tests suggests that the gas-liquid mass transfer rate of H(2)S was the rate-limiting step in the biological desulfurization in the reactor, indicating that the mass transfer efficiency of H(2)S needs to be improved to enhance the desulfurization performance.
authors.affiliation: Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan. kobayashi.takuro@nies.go.jp
authors.forename: Takuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Kai-Qin
authors.initials: KQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yu-You
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuhei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inamori
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D019149:Bioreactors; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide