Evaluation of Parallel-Series Configurations of Two-Phase Partitioning Biotrickling Filtration and Biotrickling Filtration for Treating Styrene Gas-Phase Emissions

Pau San-Valero, Javier Álvarez-Hornos, Pablo Ferrero, Josep M. Penya-Roja, Paula Marzal and Carmen Gabaldón
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Pau San-Valero: Research Group GI2AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Av. de la Universitat s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
Javier Álvarez-Hornos: Research Group GI2AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Av. de la Universitat s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
Pablo Ferrero: Research Group GI2AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Av. de la Universitat s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
Josep M. Penya-Roja: Research Group GI2AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Av. de la Universitat s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
Paula Marzal: Research Group GI2AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Av. de la Universitat s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
Carmen Gabaldón: Research Group GI2AM, Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat de València, Av. de la Universitat s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 17, 1-14

Abstract: The removal of styrene from industrial representative gaseous emissions was studied using two reactors connected in series: a two-phase partitioning biotrickling filter (TPPB-BTF) and a conventional biotrickling filter (BTF). The system was operated under industrial conditions, which included steady and transient conditions and intermittent spraying. Silicone oil was used in the TPPB-BTF with a quantity as low as 25 mL L −1 , promoting a faster start-up compared to the BTF. By working at a styrene loading of 30 g m −3 h −1 , nearly complete removal efficiency (RE) was obtained. In addition, the removal was not adversely impacted by using non-steady emission patterns such as overnight shutdowns (97% RE) and oscillating concentrations (95% RE), demonstrating its viability for industrial applications. After 2 months from inoculation, two additional configurations (reverse series BTF + TPPB-BTF and parallel) were tested, showing the series configuration as the best approach to consistently achieve RE > 95%. After 51 days of operation, high throughput sequencing revealed a sharp decrease in the bacterial diversity. In both reactors, the microorganisms belonging to the Comamonadaceae family were predominant and other styrene degraders such as Pseudomonadaceae proliferated preferably in the first reactor.

Keywords: biological air treatment; biotrickling filtration; silicone oil; styrene; two-phase partitioning bioreactor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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