Different scenarios for improving hydrophobic VOCs elimination in trickle-bed-air-biofilters

Abderrahman Zehraoui, George A. Sorial, Ashraf Aly Hassan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The removal of hydrophobic compounds by biofiltration using different techniques was studied using n-hexane as a model compound. The different techniques used include the introduction of surfactant in the nutrient feed, use in mixture with benzene, change of medium from bacteria to fungi, and in mixture with methanol. The VOC chosen were n-hexane, benzene, and methanol. Surfactant enhanced the biodegradation process of n-hexane in the biofilter and provided stable performance as compared to biodegradation of n-hexane alone using bacteria. Using fungi greatly enhanced the performance of biofilter degrading n-hexane. The data confirmed the supremacy of fungi over bacteria for degrading n-hexane. The change of the medium from bacteria to fungi by providing acidic nutrient buffers was very effective in biofiltration of hydrophobic VOC. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 105th AWMA Annual Conference and Exhibition 2012 (San Antonio, TX 6/19-22/2012).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication105th Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference and Exhibition 2012, ACE 2012
Pages708-718
Number of pages11
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes
Event105th Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference and Exhibition 2012, ACE 2012 - San Antonio, TX, United States
Duration: Jun 19 2012Jun 22 2012

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association's Annual Conference and Exhibition, AWMA
Volume1
ISSN (Print)1052-6102

Conference

Conference105th Air and Waste Management Association Annual Conference and Exhibition 2012, ACE 2012
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Antonio, TX
Period6/19/126/22/12

Keywords

  • Benzene
  • Hydrophilic
  • Hydrophobic
  • Methanol
  • Trickle-air-bed-biofilter
  • Volatile organic compounds
  • n-Hexane

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Energy

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