Biofiltration of polluted gas streams containing malodorous triethylam
ine (TEA) was studied. The experiments were conducted in a laboratory-
scale reactor with a mixture of sieved compost and chaff particles as
the filter material on which the microorganisms were immobilized. The
concentrations of TEA in the inlet gas varied from 0.32 to 3.45 g/m(3)
(78 ppmv to 841 ppmv), while the superficial velocity of the inlet ga
s ranged from 60.1 to 322.2 m/hr. The removal efficiency of triethylam
ine in the biofilter decreased as the gas velocity or TEA concentratio
n in the inlet gas increased. Moreover, the elimination capacity of th
is biofilter could reach up to 140 g/(m(3) hr). When the loading of TE
A exceeded this critical value, substrate inhibition occurred and the
elimination capacity decreased. A mathematical model predicting the re
moval efficiency of the pollutant was also developed in this study. Th
e inhibitory effect of the substrate on the growth rate of the biomass
was considered in this model. The proposed model could accurately rep
resent the experimental data obtained in this study.