Bioprocesses for air pollution control

Abstract

Bioprocesses have been developed as relatively recent alternatives to conventional, non-biological technologies, for waste gas treatment and air pollution control in general. This paper reviews major biodegradation processes relevant in this field as well as both accepted and major innovative bioreactor configurations studied or used nowadays for the treatment of polluted air, i.e. biofilters, one-and two-liquid phase biotrickling filters, bioscrubbers, membrane bioreactors, rotating biodiscs and biodrums, one-and two-liquid phase suspended growth bioreactors, as well as hybrid reactor configurations. Some of these bioreactors are being used at full-scale for solving air pollution problems, while others are still at the research and development stage at laboratory-or pilot-scale.

Abatement of styrene waste gas emission by biofilter and biotrickling filter: comparison of packing materials and inoculation procedures

“…Biotechnologies are cost-effective due to their low operational costs, low energy requirements and an absence of residual products requiring further treatment or disposal (Kennes et al 2009). Among the available biological gas treatments, biofilters (BFs) and biotrickling filters (BTFs) are of particular interest.…”

Volumetric mass transfer coefficients characterising VOC absorption in water/silicone oil mixtures

“…Two-Phase Partitioning Bioreactors (TPPBs) have been identified as one of the potential biotechnologies to treat hydrophobic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs; [1][2][3][4]). In such gasliquid-liquid processes, the mass transfer coefficient K L a is a key parameter in estimating reactor performance [5][6][7][8][9][10][11].…”

Use of Biological Methods For Removal of H2S From Biogas In Wastewater Treatment Plants – A Review

“…Biological methods are simple to operate and inexpensive [13]. Compared to the physicochemical treatments, biological methods are ecologically cleaner -the end products of biological treatment are carbon dioxide, water, sulfate and nitrate [17]. The basic pollutant removal mechanisms of all the reactors are similar, whereas the main differences come from the use of microorganisms (suspended in liquid or immobilized on biofilm), a type of packing medium, pollutant concentration etc.…”