A New Type Synthetic Filter Material for Biofilter: Preparation and its Characteristic Analysis

Abstract

In this study, a new type poly(vinyl alcohol)/peat composite bead is prepared and is shown suitable as a filter material for biofiltration. The optimal preparation condition is with the peat size of 16–35 mesh, the ratio of water to peat of 40g water/10 peat and the immersion time in the phosphate solution of 30min. The composite bead prepared by this process is a porous spherical particle with a density of 0.692 g/cm3. It contains phosphor and nitrogen nutrient are 2.91mg P/g dry solid and 3.25mg N/g dry solid, respectively. The diameter of composite bead is between 2.4 and 6.0mm and the average diameter is about 4.0mm. The equilibrium moisture content of the bead from adsorption and holding experiments are 50.5 and 66.8% on a wet basis, respectively, corresponding to the optimal filter material required and is sufficient to sustain biological activity as the bead adsorbs equilibrium moisture. The composite bead has higher moisture holding capacity and the compression strength than the pig manure compost filter material. The composite bead has buffer capacity and could maintain the filter bed at pH = 6.9–7.2 during the operation period. The percentage of removed ethyl acetate could stay at over 99% for 33 days operation while the composite bead adsorbed inorganic nitrate nutrient.