Author(s)

C. Gabaldón, V. Martínez-Soria, P. Marzal, J.M. Peñarrocha & C. Royero

Abstract

Air biofiltration has been shown as a low-cost, competitive alternative to the physico-chemical treatment technologies to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial air emissions. In order to investigate the performance of this growing technology, two biofiltration pilot units were operated for a continuous period of 3 months. Commercial peat was used as the support material. At star-up, the biofilters were inoculated with a two-months conditioned culture seeded with activated sludge from an industrial wastewater treatment plant. The moisture content of the filter material was adjusted to approximately 80% (wet basis). Nutrients were added periodically to the medium. Temperature was kept on 24-28 ºC. Influences of toluene inlet concentration and gas flow rate were studied

Keywords