MACRO-KINETIC INVESTIGATION ON PHENOL UPTAKE FROM AIR BY BIOFILTRATION - INFLUENCE OF SUPERFICIAL GAS-FLOW RATE AND INLET POLLUTANT CONCENTRATION

The macro-kinetic behavior of phenol removal from a synthetic exhaust gas was investigated theoretically as well as experimentally by means of two identica I continuously operating laboratory-scale biological f ilter bed columns. A mixture of peat and glass beads was used as filte r material. After sterilization it was inoculated with a pure strain o f Pseudomonas putida, as employed in previous experimental studies. To determine the influence of the superficial gas flow rate on biofilter performance and to evaluate the phenol concentration profiles along t he column, two series of continuous tests were carried out varying eit her the inlet phenol concentration, up to 1650 mg . m(-3), or the supe rficial gas flow rate, from 30 to 460 m(3) . m(-2). h(-1). The elimina tion capacity of the biofilter is proved by a maximum volumetric pheno l removal rate of 0.73 kg . m(-3). h(-1). The experimental results are consistent with a biofilm model incorporating first-order substrate e limination kinetics. The model may be considered a useful tool in scal ing-up a biofiltration system. Furthermore, the deodorization capacity of the biofilter was investigated, at inlet phenol concentrations up to 280 mg . m(-3) and superficial gas flow rates ranging from 30 to 92 m(3) . m(-2). h(-1). The deodorization of the gas was achieved at a m aximum inlet phenol concentration of about 255 mg . m(-3), operating a t a superficial gas flow rate of 30 m(3) . m(-2). h(-1). (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.