Novel Vapor-Phase Biofiltration and Catalytic Combustion of Volatile Organic Compounds

Abstract

The aerobic biodegradation and catalytic oxidation of vapor-phase 2-propanol (IPA) were investigated. The catalytic oxidation of IPA was carried out over zinc, copper, and chromium oxide catalysts prepared via a sol−gel technique in a fixed-bed reactor operated at atmospheric pressure and in the temperature range of 25−165 °C. The activity of the catalysts was measured by means of the light-off temperature (defined as 50% conversion of IPA). The light-off temperatures of zinc oxide, copper oxide, and chromium oxide are 90, 100, and 110 °C, respectively. The results indicate that, at relatively low temperature (40−100 °C), IPA was partially oxidized, which resulted in acetone formation. The maximum acetone selectivity varied between 30 and 97% at ca. 100 °C, depending on the types of catalyst. For the biodegradation study, enriched solvent-tolerant bacterial cells were immobilized onto porous glass cylinders within a biofilter. Successful biofiltration of high solvent vapor concentrations of up to 34 g m-3...