Removal of hydrogen sulfide by the compost biofilter with sludge of leather industry

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was efficiently removed from contaminated air by a p ilot-scale compost bio-filter. Sludge from the leather industry was inocula ted into spent mushroom compost, mixed with grounded snail shell (GSS) (she ll:compost, 1:5) which was used for buffering bed against pH decline, durin g the operation. More than 99% of H2S was removed from H2S loaded air. The optimum pH for this operation ranged from 6 to 7. The average specific upta ke rate of H2S was obtained as 0.65 mmol S l(-1) h(-1) in a continuous up-f low. The moisture content was 65-90%, from bottom to top of the packed bed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.