Treatment of methyl tert-butyl ether vapors in biotrickling filters. 2. Analysis of the rate-limiting step and behavior under transient conditions

Detailed experiments were performed with gas phase biotrickling filters tre ating vapors of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive of grea t environmental concern. A particular emphasis was placed on the analysis o f the rate-limiting step, and it was found that the process was mostly limi ted by the biological reaction rather than by mass transfer. Further experi ments involved the study of the dynamic behavior of the biotrickling filter s under simulated field conditions. In all cases, the biotrickling filters adapted rapidly to the new conditions, and new steady states were obtained within hours. The relevance of the results and the implications as far as i mplementation of biotrickling filters for field MTBE treatment are discusse d.