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Styrene and Bioaerosol Removal from Waste Air with a Combined Biotrickling Filter and DBD–Plasma System. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12219240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A combined system of a biotrickling filter and a non-thermal plasma (NTP) in a downstream airflow was operated for 1220 days for treatment of emissions of styrene and secondary emissions of germs formed in the biological process. The biotrickling filter was operated at variable inlet concentrations, empty bed residence times (EBRT), type and dosage of fertilizers, irrigation densities, and starvation periods, while dielectric barrier discharge and corona discharge were operated at different specific input energy levels to achieve optimal conditions. Under these conditions, efficiencies in the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), germs and styrene of 96–98%, 1–4 log units and 24.7–50.1 g C m−3 h−1 were achieved, respectively. Fluid simulations of the NTP and a germ emission-based clocking of the discharge reveal further energy saving potentials of more than 90%. The aim of an energy-efficient elimination of VOCs through a biotrickling filter and of secondary germ emissions by a NTP stage in a downstream airflow for potential re-use of purified waste gas as process gas for industrial application was successfully accomplished.
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Portune KJ, Pérez MC, Álvarez-Hornos J, Gabaldón C. Contribution of bacterial biodiversity on the operational performance of a styrene biotrickling filter. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 247:125800. [PMID: 31927182 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Long-term operational stability of biotrickling filters (BTFs) degrading volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is dependent on both physicochemical as well as biological properties. Effects of increasingly stressful levels of air pollutants on the microbial structure of biofilms within BTFs are not well understood, especially for VOCs such as styrene. To investigate the relationship between biofilm biodiversity and operational stability, the temporal dynamics of a biofilm from a biotrickling filter subjected to stepwise increasing levels of air polluted with styrene was investigated using 16S rDNA pyrosequencing and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). As styrene contaminant loads were increased, microbial community composition was distinctly altered and diversity was initially reduced in early stages but gradually stabilized and increased diversity in later stages, suggesting a recovery and acclimatization period within the microbial community during incremental exposure of the pollutant. Although temporary reductions in known styrene-degrading bacterial genera (Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus) occurred under increased styrene loads, stable BTF performance was maintained due to functional redundancy. New candidate genera for styrene degradation (Azoarcus, Dokdonella) were identified in conditions of high styrene loads, and may have supported the observed stable BTF performance throughout the experiment. Styrene inlet load was found to be important modulator of community composition and may have been partly responsible for the observed temporary reductions of Pseudomonas. Notable differences between dominant genera detected via pyrosequencing compared to species detected by PCR-DGGE suggests that simultaneous implementation of both techniques is valuable for fully characterizing dynamic microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Portune
- Research Group GI(2)AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - M Carmen Pérez
- Research Group GI(2)AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Javier Álvarez-Hornos
- Research Group GI(2)AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Carmen Gabaldón
- Research Group GI(2)AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain.
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Rezaei M, Moussavi G, Naddafi K, Johnson MS. Enhanced biodegradation of styrene vapors in the biotrickling filter inoculated with biosurfactant-generating bacteria under H 2O 2 stimulation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 704:135325. [PMID: 31839317 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Biotrickling filters (BTFs) applied to hydrophobic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) suffer from limited mass transfer. Phase transfer kinetic and equilibrium effects limit the biodegradation of hydrophobic VOCs especially at high concentrations. This study evaluates two strategies for overcoming the problem. First, a natural process was used to enhance the aqueous availability of styrene, a hydrophobic VOC model, by inoculating the BTF with a mixture of biosurfactant-generating bacteria. This method achieved a maximum elimination capacity (ECmax) of 139 g m-3h-1 in the BTF at an empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 60s. The highest concentrations of the biosurfactants surfactin and rhamnolipid were 205 and 86 mg L-1, respectively, in this step. Sequencing 16S rRNA confirmed the presence of biosurfactant-producing bacteria capable of biodegrading styrene in the BTF including Bacillus sonorensis, Bacillus subtilis, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Alcaligenes feacalis, Arthrobacter creatinolyticus, and Kocuria rosea. Second, the effect of adding H2O2 to the recycle liquid on the BTF performance was determined. The biodegradation and mineralization of styrene in the BTF operated at a loading rate of 266 g m-3h-1 and H2O2/styrene molar ratio of 0.05 with EBRT as short as 15 s were 94% and 53%, respectively, with the EC of 250 g m-3h-1. High concentrations of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and catalase: 56 and 7 U gbiomass-1, respectively) were produced and biosurfactant generation was increased in this step, contributing to enhanced styrene biodegradation and mineralization. The styrene biodegradation and mineralization values in the BTF in the last day operated under similar conditions but without H2O2 were 11.4% and 5.3%, respectively. The bacterial population had no considerable change in the BTF after adding H2O2. Accordingly, stimulating the BTF inoculated with biosurfactant-generating bacteria with H2O2 is a promising strategy for improving the biodegradation of hydrophobic VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Rezaei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Moussavi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Kazem Naddafi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Matthew S Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 5, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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Li K, Zhou J, Wang L, Mao Z, Xu R. The styrene purification performance of biotrickling filter with toluene-styrene acclimatization under acidic conditions. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2019; 69:944-955. [PMID: 30973304 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2019.1604450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The obvious disadvantages of biotrickling filters (BTFs) are the long start-up time and low removal efficiency (RE) when treating refractory hydrophobic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which limits its industrial application. It is worthwhile to investigate how to reduce the start-up period of the BTF for treating hydrophobic VOCs. Here, we present the first study to evaluate the strategy of toluene induction combined with toluene-styrene synchronous acclimatization during start-up in a laboratory-scale BTF inoculated with activated sludge for styrene removal, as well as the effects of styrene inlet concentration (0.279 to 2.659 g·m-3), empty bed residence time (EBRT) (i.e., 136, 90, 68, 45, 34 sec), humidity (7.7% to 88.9%), and pH (i.e., 4, 3, 2.5, 2) on the performance of the BTF system. The experiments were carried out under acidic conditions (pH 4.5) to make fungi dominant in the BTF. The start-up period for styrene in the BTF was shortened to about 28 days. A maximum elimination capacity (ECmax) of 126 g·m-3·hr-1 with an RE of 80% was attained when styrene inlet loading rate (ILR) was below 180 g·m-3·hr-1. The highest styrene RE(s) [of BTF] that could be achieved were 95% and 93.4%, respectively, for humidity of 7.7% and at pH 2. A single dominant fungal strain was isolated and identified as Candida palmioleophila strain MA-M11 based on the 26S ribosomal RNA gene. Overall, the styrene induction with the toluene-styrene synchronous acclimatization could markedly reduce the start-up period and enhance the RE of styrene. The BTF dominated by fungi exhibited good performance under low pH and humidity and great potential in treating styrene with higher inlet concentrations. Implications: The application of the toluene induction combined with toluene-styrene synchronous acclimatization demonstrated to be a promising approach for the highly efficient removal of styrene. The toluene induction can accelerate biofilm formation, and the adaptability of microorganisms to styrene can be improved rapidly by the toluene-styrene synchronous acclimatization. The integrated application of two technologies can shorten the start-up period of biotrickling filters markedly and promote its industrial application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Li
- a School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology , Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiazhen Zhou
- b College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University , Shanghai , People's Republic of China
| | - Liping Wang
- a School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology , Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Mao
- a School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology , Xuzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiwei Xu
- c College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University , Beijing , People's Republic of China
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San-Valero P, Dorado AD, Martínez-Soria V, Gabaldón C. Biotrickling filter modeling for styrene abatement. Part 1: Model development, calibration and validation on an industrial scale. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 191:1066-1074. [PMID: 29102028 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A three-phase dynamic mathematical model based on mass balances describing the main processes in biotrickling filtration: convection, mass transfer, diffusion, and biodegradation was calibrated and validated for the simulation of an industrial styrene-degrading biotrickling filter. The model considered the key features of the industrial operation of biotrickling filters: variable conditions of loading and intermittent irrigation. These features were included in the model switching from the mathematical description of periods with and without irrigation. Model equations were based on the mass balances describing the main processes in biotrickling filtration: convection, mass transfer, diffusion, and biodegradation. The model was calibrated with steady-state data from a laboratory biotrickling filter treating inlet loads at 13-74 g C m-3 h-1 and at empty bed residence time of 30-15 s. The model predicted the dynamic emission in the outlet of the biotrickling filter, simulating the small peaks of concentration occurring during irrigation. The validation of the model was performed using data from a pilot on-site biotrickling filter treating styrene installed in a fiber-reinforced facility. The model predicted the performance of the biotrickling filter working under high-oscillating emissions at an inlet load in a range of 5-23 g C m-3 h-1 and at an empty bed residence time of 31 s for more than 50 days, with a goodness of fit of 0.84.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pau San-Valero
- Research Group GI(2)AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de Valencia, Av. de la Universitat s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Antonio D Dorado
- Department of Mining Engineering and Natural Resources, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Bases de Manresa 61-73, 08240, Manresa, Spain
| | - Vicente Martínez-Soria
- Research Group GI(2)AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de Valencia, Av. de la Universitat s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Carmen Gabaldón
- Research Group GI(2)AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de Valencia, Av. de la Universitat s/n, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
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Abatement of styrene waste gas emission by biofilter and biotrickling filter: comparison of packing materials and inoculation procedures. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 99:19-32. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5773-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Balasubramanian P, Philip L, Murty Bhallamudi S. Biotrickling filtration of complex pharmaceutical VOC emissions along with chloroform. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2012; 114:149-159. [PMID: 22507906 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2012] [Revised: 03/09/2012] [Accepted: 03/09/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation of chloroform along with a mixture of VOCs (methanol, ethanol, acetone and toluene) commonly found in pharmaceutical emissions using a biotrickling filter (BTF) was evaluated. The performance of the BTF was evaluated for both steady and transient conditions, for different inlet loading rates (ILR), empty bed residence time (EBRT) and inlet chloroform concentrations. Among the VOCs studied before chloroform feeding, toluene removal was the least, under all the operating conditions. Complete removal of all pollutants was achieved up to a chloroform loading rate of 14.22 g/m(3)/h. Increase in loading rate of chloroform adversely affected the removal efficiency of toluene and declined the overall performance of BTF. The results suggest that biodegradation of VOCs is influenced by the inlet loading rate and complexity of pollutants in the inlet air stream. Results from studies on shock loading and starvation indicated that the system was highly resilient to transient operating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Balasubramanian
- Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Division, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600 036, India
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