BIOCATALYTIC REMOVAL OF MONO-CHLOROBENZENE VAPOR IN TRICKLING FILTERS

Removal of mono-chlorobenzene (m-CB) vapors from air streams in a biot rickling filter unit was studied under various operating conditions co ncerning inlet m-CB concentration (C-gi), air residence time (tau), li quid recirculation rate (Q), pH, and frequency of medium replenishment . Removal of m-CB was high under all conditions especially when compar ed to the performance of conventional biofilters removing compounds si milar to m-CB. The effect of pH was found to be much less than what is observed with suspended cultures of the same biomass. Concentration p rofiles of m-CB along the filter bed suggest either zero-or first-orde r rate law for the process, depending on the inlet m-CB concentration value. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.