Evaluation of the performance of structured mixed packing and inert packing materials in toluene biotrickle-filtration

Abstract

Packing materials play a key role in waste gas treatment. Organic and inert packing materials have their disadvantages, which may be minimized by mixed packing. In this study, various operating conditions were applied to evaluate the performance of structured mixed packing and inert packing materials in toluene biotricklefiltration. Four biotrickle filters were packed with structured mixed packing materials, namely, ceramic pall rings, ceramic rashig rings, and lava rock. Their toluene removal capacity was studied for 217 day using a laboratory-scale reaction under various operating conditions. The key elimination capacity (removal efficiency > 95%) ranking of the biotrickle filters was as follows: Structured mixed packing (306.20 ± 7.90 g/m 3 /h) > pall ring (156.71 ± 7.84 g/m 3 /h) > rashig ring (153.31 ± 6.14 g/m 3 /h) > lava rock (150.32 ± 9.19 g/m 3 /h). The structured mixed packing and inert packing resulted in excellent toluene-degrading biofilter performance under long-term operation. The structured mixed packing provided a more rapid startup rate and better process robustness than the inert packing did. The biotrickle filter with mixed packing materials had a high elimination capacity which makes it suitable for various real-life applications, whereas the capability of the inert packing material was more suitable for treating a steady low toluene load.

Performance evaluation of a scoria-compost biofilter treating xylene vapors

“…These properties, except the later one, could be found in organic materials such as compost and peat, which allow the biofilter to have a quick startup and high elimination capacity. However, organic materials have a relatively low durability and tend to settle and compact, which in turn result in increased pressure drop and channeling [ 10 ]. On the other hand, the use of an inert material with rigid structure and large pores as filter bed allows a better gas distribution inside the reactor than organic carriers and minimizes the pressure drop build ups [ 11 , 12 ].…”