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Thermophilic biotrickling filtration of ethanol vapors.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cox, HH; Sexton, T; Shareefdeen, ZM; Deshusses, MA
Published in: Environmental science & technology
June 2001

The treatment of ethanol vapors in biotrickling filters for air pollution control was investigated. Two reactors were operated in parallel, one at ambient temperature (22 degrees C) and one at high temperature (53 degrees C). After a short adaptation phase, the removal of ethanol was similar in both reactors. At a bed contact time of 57 s, the elimination capacity exceeded 220 g m(-3) h(-1) at both temperatures. The experiments performed revealed that the process was most likely limited by biodegradation in the biofilm. The high-temperature biotrickling filter exhibited a higher degree of ethanol mineralization to CO2 (60 vs 46% at ambient temperature); hence, a lower rate of biomass accumulation was observed. Plating and cultivation of biofilm samples revealed that the high-temperature biotrickling filter hosted a process culture composed of both mesophilic and thermotolerant or thermophilic microorganisms, whereas the ambient-temperature reactor lacked microorganisms capable of growing at high temperature. Consequently, the performance of the control biotrickling filter was significantly affected by a short incursion at 53 degrees C. The upper temperature limit for treatment was 62 degrees C. Overall, the results of this study open new possibilities for biotrickling filtration of hot gases.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Environmental science & technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

June 2001

Volume

35

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2612 / 2619

Related Subject Headings

  • Volatilization
  • Temperature
  • Filtration
  • Ethanol
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Biofilms
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
  • Air Pollution
 

Citation

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Cox, H. H., Sexton, T., Shareefdeen, Z. M., & Deshusses, M. A. (2001). Thermophilic biotrickling filtration of ethanol vapors. Environmental Science & Technology, 35(12), 2612–2619. https://doi.org/10.1021/es001764h
Cox, H. H., T. Sexton, Z. M. Shareefdeen, and M. A. Deshusses. “Thermophilic biotrickling filtration of ethanol vapors.Environmental Science & Technology 35, no. 12 (June 2001): 2612–19. https://doi.org/10.1021/es001764h.
Cox HH, Sexton T, Shareefdeen ZM, Deshusses MA. Thermophilic biotrickling filtration of ethanol vapors. Environmental science & technology. 2001 Jun;35(12):2612–9.
Cox, H. H., et al. “Thermophilic biotrickling filtration of ethanol vapors.Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 35, no. 12, June 2001, pp. 2612–19. Epmc, doi:10.1021/es001764h.
Cox HH, Sexton T, Shareefdeen ZM, Deshusses MA. Thermophilic biotrickling filtration of ethanol vapors. Environmental science & technology. 2001 Jun;35(12):2612–2619.
Journal cover image

Published In

Environmental science & technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

June 2001

Volume

35

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2612 / 2619

Related Subject Headings

  • Volatilization
  • Temperature
  • Filtration
  • Ethanol
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Biofilms
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
  • Air Pollution