Biofiltration of benzene emissions: Biofilter response to variations in the pollutants inlet concentration and gas flow rate

Abstract

To examine biofilter response with varying loading rate, a laboratory-based biofilter, packed with mixture of compost, sugar cane bagasse and granulated active carbon (GAC), was used for treating benzene. At influent benzene loadings (< 40 g m⁻³h⁻¹), nearly 100% removal could be achieved. Maximum elimination capacity of biofilter was 83.65 g m⁻³h⁻¹ at inlet benzene load of 69 g m⁻³h⁻¹. Using Wani’s method of macrokinetic determination, maximum removal rate (μmax) was calculated as 0.017 g m⁻³s⁻¹, and saturation constant (Kﻯ) of benzene value as 0.0226 g m⁻³. Increase in CO₂ production with elimination capacity suggested that removal of benzene was due to microorganism and good due to the performance of biofilter. The mixture of packing material of bagasse, compost and GAC appears to be an efficient packing material for low to medium loading rate.