Removal of ethylacetate vapor from waste gases by a trickle-bed air biofilter

Abstract

Biofilter system is a relatively new process that has been proven to be more cost-effective than traditional technologies such as carbon adsorption, liquid scrubbing, condensation, thermal incineration, and catalytic incineration for removing low-strength volatile organic compounds from waste gases. The trickle-bed air biofilter (TBAB) performance for ethylacetate (EA) removal was evaluated under different influent loadings. In the pseudo-steady states, the elimination capacity increased, but the removal efficiency decreased with increased influent loading. More than 95 and 90% removal efficiencies could be achieved for EA loadings below 490 and 810 g m −3 h −1, respectively. The TBAB appears to be very effective for controlling EA emission under low to high loading conditions, and the effectiveness could be maintained over 190 days of laboratory operation.