Removal of pentane and styrene mixtures from waste gases by a trickle-bed air biofilter

The biofilter process is a relatively new technology that has been proven t o be more cost-effective than traditional technologies for treating many ki nds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from waste gases. Pentane and styr ene mixtures are commonly encountered in the manufacture of polymers such a s polystyrene. This research attempts to employ a trickle-bed air biofilter (TBAB) for treating such mixtures under different influent carbon loadings . In the pseudo-steady-state conditions, the elimination capacities of pent ane and styrene increased but the removal efficiencies decreased with incre ased influent carbon loading. The removal efficiencies of styrene were high er than those of pentane, indicating that styrene is a preferred substrate and the differences were enhanced at a high carbon loading. Removal efficie ncies of more than 80% were achieved with influent carbon loadings of penta ne and styrene below 25 and 68 gm(-3) h(-1), respectively. The TBAB appears to be efficient for controlling VOC emissions with low pentane and medium styrene loadings, and the effectiveness could be maintained over 140 days o f laboratory operation. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.