Innovative experimental setup for the parallel operation of multiple benchscale biotrickling filters for waste air treatment

A new concept of periodically rotating biotrickling filters was developed f or parallel operation of multiple bench scale biotrickling Biters without t he requirement for expensive Equipment such as liquid recycle pumps and air flow regulation. The performance of 20 identically operated rotating biotr ickling Biters was reproducible with an average toluene elimination capacit y of 79.4 g m(-3) h(-1) (s.d. = 5.7) at an empty bed residence time of 45 s and a toluene inlet gas phase concentration of 1.6 g m(-3). At gas and liq uid cocurrent operation, the toluene elimination capacity of rotating biotr ickling filters was 20% higher than at countercurrent operation. This was p robably caused by greater mass transfer limitation resulting from increased wetting of the biofilm during countercurrent operation. Performance versus load curves of rotating and of conventional biotrickling filters were comp arable with non-zero order removal at toluene inlet concentrations lower th an 2 g m(-3). This multiple rotating biotrickling filters setup provides a new and inexpensive tool for comparative studies in biotrickling filtration for air pollution control.