title: The use of novel packing material for improving methane oxidation in biofilters.
abstract: The use of biofilters (working bed volume of 7.85 L) for the oxidation of CH4 at low concentrations (from 0.17%v/v to 3.63%v/v, typically in waste gas from anaerobic sewage treatment) was investigated and four empty bed residence times were tested (in min): 42.8, 29.5, 19.6, and 7.4. Mixtures of organic (composted leaves) and three non-organic materials (sponge-based material - SBM, blast furnace slag - BFS, and expanded vermiculite - ExpV) were used as packing media. Along 188 operational days after the steady state was reached (95 days for start-up), the CH4 mineralization decreased while the inlet loads gradually increased from 3.0 ± 0.8 gCH4 m(-3) h(-1) to 148.8 ± 4.4 gCH4 m(-3) h(-1). The biofilter packed with ExpV showed the best results, since the CH4 conversions decreased from 95.0 ± 5.0% to 12.7 ± 3.7% as a function of inlet concentration, compared to the other two biofilters (SBM and BFS) which showed CH4 conversions decreasing from 56.0 ± 5.4% to 3.5 ± 1.2% as a function of inlet concentration. The methanotrophic activity of biomass taken from ExpV biofilter was three times higher than the activity of biomass from the other two biofilters. Taken together, these results suggested that ExpV provides an attractive environment for microbial growth, besides the mechanical resistance provided to the whole packing media, showing the potential to its use in biofiltration of diffuse CH4 emissions.
authors: Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental - DESA), Engineering College (Escola de Engenharia), Federal University of Minas Gerais (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, BL 1 - sala 4623, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: emanuelmfb@yahoo.com.br.
authors: Emanuel Manfred F
authors: EMF
authors: Brandt
authors: Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental - DESA), Engineering College (Escola de Engenharia), Federal University of Minas Gerais (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, BL 1 - sala 4623, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: Felipe V
authors: FV
authors: Duarte
authors: Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental - DESA), Engineering College (Escola de Engenharia), Federal University of Minas Gerais (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, BL 1 - sala 4623, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: João Paulo R
authors: JPR
authors: Vieira
authors: Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental - DESA), Engineering College (Escola de Engenharia), Federal University of Minas Gerais (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, BL 1 - sala 4623, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: Vinícius M
authors: VM
authors: Melo
authors: Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental - DESA), Engineering College (Escola de Engenharia), Federal University of Minas Gerais (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, BL 1 - sala 4623, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: Cláudio L
authors: CL
authors: Souza
authors: Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental - DESA), Engineering College (Escola de Engenharia), Federal University of Minas Gerais (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, BL 1 - sala 4623, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: Juliana C
authors: JC
authors: Araújo
authors: Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (Departamento de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental - DESA), Engineering College (Escola de Engenharia), Federal University of Minas Gerais (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, BL 1 - sala 4623, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors: Carlos Augusto L
authors: CAL
authors: Chernicharo
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018515:Plant Leaves; D020959:Polyethylene; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012987:Soil; C003760:vermiculite; D020959:Polyethylene; D008697:Methane
keywords: Blast furnace slag; Diffuse emissions; Expanded vermiculite; Methane biofiltration; Methanotrophs; Sponge