Abstract
Three laboratory-scale biofilter columns were operated for 82 days to investigate the removal of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene (BTEX) from a waste gas stream. The columns contain a mixture of yard waste and sludge compost as the base biofilter material. Different amounts of granular activated carbon (GAC) are mixed with the compost in two of the three columns to evaluate the extent to which biofilter performance can be enhanced. The columns displayed preferential utilization of benzene followed by toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene, respectively. Removal efficiencies of ≥90% were achieved for inlet concentrations of ≥200 ppm of each of the BTEX compounds and a gas loading rate of 17.6 m 3/m 2 h in all columns over the period of study. During sudden increases in the gas flow rate or the BTEX influent concentration, biofilters containing GAC exhibited significantly higher removal efficiencies and more stable operation than the biofilter containing only compost.
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