Influence of polymeric materials on the performance of a mesophilic biotrickling filter treating an α‐pinene contaminated gas stream

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have characterized the most effective absorbent polymers for the removal of volatile hydrophobic pollutants from air. This study evaluates the performance of a laboratory scale -pinene-degrading biotrickling filter (BTF) packed with lava rock. A second solid phase, Hytrel ® G3548L (5%, v/v), was added in order to check its effect on the performance of the system during long-term operation. RESULTS: The biodegradation profile was similar in both bioreactor configurations, with or without solid polymers, reaching a maximum elimination capacity (ECmax ) around 25.6 g m −3 h −1 when an inlet loading rate of 57.2 g m −3 h −1 was applied. Tracer studies were carried out in order to determine the effect of the liquid and gas velocities, and to analyze the gas distribution with the different packing materials. CONCLUSIONS: Deviation from ideal flow caused by channelling of the fluid was observed from tracer studies. No better performance was observed under steady-state conditions in the presence of polymeric Hytrel material. Further considerations are needed for the selection of an appropriate absorbent polymer for -pinene removal. Industry 50 cm in height, while the filter bed volume was 0.4 L. The column also had three equidistant gas sampling ports along its height. At the beginning of each experiment, the clean air inlet flow was mixed with the test compound. The waste-gas stream and the J Chem Technol Biotechnol 2015; 90: 658-668

Biosynthesis of 4‐isopropylbenzoic acid from α‐pinene by using a mutant strain originated from the α‐pinene degrader Pseudomonas veronii ZW

“…The biodegradation of α‐pinene by pure cultures has also been studied, and the metabolic mechanism has been revealed in some microorganisms, such as Bacillus pallidus , Nocardia rubra , Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas veronii . Recently, researchers used these special strains in biofilters and successfully obtained efficient removal of α‐pinene, with critical elimination ranging from 3 to 143 g m −3 h −1 …”

“…2,3 As the most cost-effective and environment-friendly technology, biopurification, characterized by the conversion of pollutants into harmless products by microbial metabolism, has been chosen as a suitable technique for the removal of pollutants in most cases. 2,4 One important requirement for applying this technology and achieving success is the acquisition of microorganisms having appropriate metabolic capabilities for specific pollutants. In the past twenty years, many studies on microbial isolations (aerobic or anaerobic) and their biodegradation characteristics to typical compounds (chlorobenzene, toluene, etc.)…”

“…11,12 Recently, researchers used these special strains in biofilters and successfully obtained efficient removal of -pinene, with critical elimination ranging from 3 to 143 g m −3 h −1 . 2 Microbial metabolism related to pollutant removals are of interest to some researchers. Thorough mineralization of pollutants is no longer the ultimate purpose for several microbial degradation cases.…”