BEHAVIOR OF BIOFILTERS FOR WASTE AIR BIOTREATMENT .1. DYNAMIC-MODEL DEVELOPMENT

An novel diffusion reaction model for the determination of both the st eady-state and transient-state behavior of biofilters for waste air bi otreatment is developed and discussed. The model considers the reactor to comprise finite sections, for each of which transient mass balance s are established and solved by digital simulation. The elimination of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) vapors fr om air as single and mixed pollutants serves as an example to illustra te and discuss both the model's response and its parametric sensitivit y. Experimental evaluation of the model is presented in part 2 of this paper.