title: Treatment of O₂-free toluene emissions by anoxic biotrickling filtration.
abstract: Toluene biotrickling filtration under anoxic denitrifying conditions was evaluated in two identical bioreactors (R1 and R2) operated at liquid recycling rates of 1.3, 2.7 and 5.3 m h−1 and liquid renewal rates of 0 and 0.17 d−1. R1 and R2 achieved a similar maximum elimination capacity (EC ∼30 g m−3 h−1) at the same toluene inlet load (∼50 g m−3 h−1), which was approximately 7 times higher compared with available literature on continuous toluene removal under anoxic conditions. Nevertheless, higher metabolite accumulation was observed in the bioreactor operated without periodical liquid phase renewal (R2), leading to intermittent drops in its toluene removal performance. This is the first work operating an anoxic biotrickling filter at empty bed residence time of 3 min, which is comparable with those employed in conventional aerobic systems. A characterization of the metabolites accumulated in the liquid phase revealed a dynamic metabolite production and degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: J  Octavio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saucedo-Lucero
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arriaga
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quijano
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005374:Filtration; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014050:Toluene