Biodegradation of mixture of VOC's in a biofilter

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Arulneyam, D. | Swaminathan, T.

Affiliations: Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai 600 036, India

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: tswami@acer.iitm.ernet.in

Abstract: Volatile organic compounds (VOC's) in air have become major concem in recent years. Biodegradation of a mixture of ethanol and methanol vapor was evaluated in a laboratory biofilter with a bed of compost and polystyrene particles using an acclimated mixed culture. The continuous performance of the biofilter was studied with different proportion of ethanol and methanol at different initial concentration and flow rates. The result showed significant removal for both ethanol and methanol, which were composition dependent.The presence of either compound in the mixture inhibited the biodegradation of the other.

Keywords: biofilter, methanol, ethanol, elimination capacity, upset loading, VOCs, biodegradation

Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 30-33, 2004