Elimination of chlorobenzene vapors from air in a compost‐based biofilter

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, the removal of monochlorobenzene (CB) vapors from air was studied, for the first time, in a non‐inoculated, laboratory‐scale, aerobic biofilter. The influence of three parameters on the bioprocess has been evaluated: the rate of nitrogen supplied to the bed, the inlet concentration of CB, and the flow rate. The CB inlet concentration was varied between 0.3 and 3.2 g m−3, at a constant flow rate of 1.0 m3 h−1. Removal rates of greater than 90% were achieved for CB inlet concentrations of up to 1.2 g m−3. Then the flow rate was varied from 0.5 to 3.0 m3 h−1 with a constant inlet concentration (1.2 g m−3). Maximum elimination capacities (70 g m−3 h−1) were reached for contact times of greater than 60 s. The study of varying flow rates also permitted evaluation of a first order macrokinetic constant (1.1 × 10−2 s−1) for the CB biodegradation. Finally, the optimum nitrogen input value was found to lie between 0.3 and 0.4 g N h−1 and gave rise to elimination capacities as high as 70 g m−3 h−1 for an inlet load of near 80 g m−3 h−1. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry