U. Heinze et Cg. Friedrich, RESPIRATORY ACTIVITY OF BIOFILMS - MEASUREMENT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE ELIMINATION OF N-BUTANOL FROM WASTE-GAS, Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 48(3), 1997, pp. 411-416
A reaction chamber was developed to determine the respiratory activity
of microorganisms immobilized on various support materials for waste
gas treatment. The volumetric respiration rate was identified as a sui
table parameter for estimating the degradative activity of waste gas t
reatment plants. A laboratory trickle-bed reactor was filled with eith
er granular clay, polyamide beads, or sintered styrofoam. n-Butanol wa
s used as model solvent to determine the efficiency of its elimination
from the gas phase. This crucial parameter was correlated with the vo
lumetric degradation rate, determined from the overall material balanc
e under steady-state operating conditions. The volumetric respiration
rate of n-butanol was determined with the reaction chamber, and exceed
ed the volumetric degradation rate of n-butanol determined from the re
actor 16- to 26-fold, depending on the support material. The respirati
on rate was correlated to the degradation rate by the stoichiometry of
n-butanol oxidation and a correlation factor of 2.6-4.3. The volumetr
ic respiration rate appeared to be a suitable parameter to determine t
he degradative activity of the trickle-bed reactor used. The volumetri
c respiration rate can be ultimately applied to estimate the efficienc
y of elimination of an organic pollutant and to calculate the dimensio
ns of a reactor required to eliminate a given organic load from waste
gas.