Abstract
The removal of MTBE from a waste air stream was investigated using a bench scale thermophilic biofilter. After developing a high population of acclimated organisms capable of degrading MTBE, the biofilter achieved complete removal of MTBE at an inlet concentration of 100ppm during startup. The performance of the biofilter was then evaluated under different operational conditions, including MTBE concentrations ranging from 100 to 3000ppm and empty bed retention times (EBRTs) between 15 and 60s, corresponding to inlet mass loading of 20–650g-MTBEm−3h−1. All the experiments were conducted at a constant bed temperature of 52±3°C. The biofilter efficiently treated MTBE at loads up to 330g-MTBEm−3h−1 with very high removal efficiencies of greater than 99%. The elimination and mineralization capacities at critical loading rate were 326 and 165g-MTBEm−3h−1, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that thermophilic biofiltration can be a promising process for treatment of waste air streams containing toxic compounds.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
