Research into acetone removal from air by biofiltration using a biofilter with straight structure plates

Abstract

The biological air treatment method is based on the biological destruction of organic compounds using certain cultures of microorganisms. This method is simple and may be applied in many branches of industry. The main element of biological air treatment devices is a filter charge. Tests were carried out using a new-generation laboratory air purifier with a plate structure. This purifier is called biofilter. The biofilter has a special system for packing material humidification which does not require additional energy inputs. In order to extend the packing material's durability, it was composed of thermally treated birch fibre. Pollutant (acetone) biodegradation occurred on thermally treated wood fibre in this research. According to the performed tests and the received results, the process of biodestruction was highly efficient. When acetone was passed through biofilter's packing material at 0.08 m s−1 rate, the efficiency of the biofiltration process was from 70% up to 90%. The species of bacteria capable of removing acetone vapour from the air, i.e. Bacillus (B. cereus, B. subtilis), Pseudomonas (P. aeruginosa, P. putida), Stapylococcus (S. aureus) and Rhodococcus sp., was identified in this study during the process of biofiltration. Their amount in the biological packing material changed from 1.6 × 107 to 3.7 × 1011 CFU g−1.

Biofiltration of high concentrations of methanol vapors: removal performance, carbon balance and microbial and fly populations

“…Among them, one is strictly aerobic ( B. siralis ), while the others are facultative anaerobic. Bacillus species have already been observed in biofilters treating VOCs, including methanol . Nevertheless, this is the first identification of B. siralis in a biofilter.…”

“…Whereas, Paenibacillaceae have already been observed in air biofilters, Paenibacillus typhae , recently isolated (in 2013), has no environmental application so far. Among the Staphylococcus identified, S. aureus has been encountered in biofilters treating acetone …”

“…Bacillus species have already been observed in biofilters treating VOCs, including methanol. 47,53,54 Nevertheless, this is the first identification of B. siralis in a biofilter. Whereas, Paenibacillaceae have already been observed in air biofilters, 51 Paenibacillus typhae, recently isolated (in 2013), has no environmental application so far.…”

“…Among the Staphylococcus identified, S. aureus has been encountered in biofilters treating acetone. 53,55 Two actinobacteria, a dominant phylus in a biofilter treating hexane, 51 were observed (Leucobacter tardus and Micrococcus luteus). Specifically, the Micrococcus luteus specie has been identified in biofilters treating a mixture of VOCs 56 , while Leucobacter tardus, recently isolated (in 2008), has not been reported.…”

Modelling of a biofiltration process of volatile organic compound mixtures in a biofilter

“…The experimental research revealed it was a rather efficient method for air cleaning. The efficiency of the filter for cleaning the air from a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (butilacetate, butanol and xylene) at the permitted concentrations reached up to 70%-98% [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”