Premium
Ethene removal from a synthetic waste gas using a dry biobed
Author(s) -
De Heyder Bart,
Overmeire Ann,
Van Langenhove Herman,
Verstraete Willy
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260440511
Subject(s) - chemistry , mass transfer coefficient , wastewater , mass transfer , methane , environmental chemistry , chromatography , environmental engineering , environmental science , organic chemistry
A packed granular activated carbon (GAC) biobed, inoculated with the ethane‐degrading strain Mycobacterium E3, was used to study ethene removal from a synthetic waste gas. Ethene, for which the dimensionless partition coefficient for an air‐water system at 20°C is about 7.6, was used as a model compound for poorly water soluble gaseous pollutants. In a first mode or operation, the GAC biobed was sprinkled intermittently and the waste gas influent was continuously pre‐humidified, establishing relatively moist conditions (water content >40% to 45%). A volumetric ethene removal rate of 0.382 kg COD · m −3 · d −1 (0.112 kg ethene · m −3 · d −1 ) was obtained for an influent concentration of 125 ppm, a superficial waste gas velocity of 3.6E−3 m · s −1 and a pseudo residence time of 45 s. However, in the second mode of operation, omitting the pre‐humidification of the waste gas influent and establishing a “dry” biobed (water content <40% to 45%), and thus obtaining better mass transfer to the biofilm, the ethene removal could be doubled for otherwise comparable operating parameters. Furthermore, under decreased wetting and for the given experimental conditions (influent concentration 125 to 816 ppm, waste gas superficial velocity 3.0E−3 m ·s −1 , pseudo waste gas residence time 43 s), the ethene removal was not limited by mass transfer of ethene through the water layer covering the biofilm. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.