Removal of pentane and styrene mixtures from waste gases by a trickle-bed air biofilter

Abstract

The biofilter process is a relatively new technology that has been proven to be more cost-effective than traditional technologies for treating many kinds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from waste gases. Pentane and styrene mixtures are commonly encountered in the manufacture of polymers such as polystyrene. This research attempts to employ a trickle-bed air biofilter (TBAB) for treating such mixtures under different influent carbon loadings. In the pseudo-steady-state conditions, the elimination capacities of pentane and styrene increased but the removal efficiencies decreased with increased influent carbon loading. The removal efficiencies of styrene were higher than those of pentane, indicating that styrene is a preferred substrate and the differences were enhanced at a high carbon loading. Removal efficiencies of more than 80% were achieved with influent carbon loadings of pentane and styrene below 25 and 68 gm-3 h-1, respectively. The TBAB appears to be efficient for controlling VOC emissions with low pentane and medium styrene loadings, and the effectiveness could be maintained over 140 days of laboratory operation. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.