title: A biofilter for treating toluene vapors: performance evaluation and microbial counts behavior.
abstract: A lab-scale biofilter packed with mixed packing materials was used for degradation of toluene. Different empty bed residence times, 148.3, 74.2 and 49.4 s, were tested for inlet concentration ranging from 0.2 to 1.2 g/m(3). The maximum elimination capacity of 36.0 g/(m(3) h) occurred at an inlet loading rate of 45.9 g/(m(3) h). The contribution of the lower layer was higher than other layers and always had the highest elimination capacity. The carbon dioxide production rate and distribution of micro-organisms followed toluene elimination capacities. The results of this study indicated that mixed packing materials could be considered as a potential biofilter carrier, with low pressure drop (less than 84.9 Pa/m), for treating air streams containing VOCs.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Energy, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , China.
authors.forename: Yazhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Energy, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , China.
authors.forename: Shunyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Energy, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , China.
authors.forename: Yimeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Energy, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , China.
authors.forename: Hongye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Energy, Zhengzhou University , Zhengzhou , China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Air treatment; Biofilter; Empty bed residence time; Inlet loading rate; Toluene