Premium
Effect of the biomass in the modelling and simulation of the biofiltration of hydrogen sulphide: simulation and experimental validation
Author(s) -
Silva Javier,
Morales Marjorie,
Cáceres Manuel,
Martín Ricardo San,
Gentina Juan Carlos,
Aroca Germán
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.2443
Subject(s) - biofilter , biomass (ecology) , correlation coefficient , diffusion , mass transfer , filter (signal processing) , chemistry , variable (mathematics) , pollutant , biological system , pulp and paper industry , environmental science , environmental engineering , mathematics , chromatography , statistics , engineering , thermodynamics , ecology , mathematical analysis , physics , organic chemistry , electrical engineering , biology
BACKGROUND: Several models have been developed to simulate the decay of pollutants concentration along the biofilter and to predict its performance. Despite the evidence, it is common that most models ignore the effect of variable biomass along the biofilter. An equation that represents the variable amount of active biomass along the column was included in the modelling of a biotrickling filter; it was obtained by measuring the active biomass at different heights. Validation of the model was carried out using experimental data obtained at different H 2 S loads. RESULTS: The simulation considering the expression for variable active biomass along the column shows better correlation with experimental results. With the diffusion coefficient that shows the best fit with the experimental results; 1.35 × 10 −9 m 2 s −1 , the value of the Thiele module is 2 × 10 −3 , indicating that biooxidation of H 2 S is controlled by mass transfer. CONCLUSIONS: A better correlation between experimental results and model prediction is obtained when the expression for variable active biomass along the column is considered in the modelling. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry