Empirical model for biofiltration of toluene

in this study the toluene removal efficiency of a composted pine bark biofi lter was determined at loading rates ranging from 9.04 to 54.21 g m(-3) h(- 1), retention times of 0.25-3.0 min, and at various bed heights. Toluene re moval efficiencies exceeding 90% were obtained when the biofilter was subje cted to a gas retention time in excess of 0.32 min (19.2 s) and loading rat es below 42 g m(-3) h(-1). The data obtained were used to develop an empiri cal model. The empirical model successfully described the overall removal e fficiency with an R-2 value of 0.98. The influence of oxygen concentration an the removal efficiency was also evaluated. Reduced biofilter performance was observed at oxygen concentrations below 5%. A wide range of microorgan isms were isolated from the: biofilter, which included Corynebacterium jeik eium A, Corynebacterium nitrilophilus, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas mend ocina, Sphingobacterium thalphophilum, and Turicella oritidis.