[White rot fungi biofilter treating waste gas containing chlorobenzene]

A novel gas-solid phase bioreactor, using bamboo as support material, inoculated with white rot fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium was established to treat waste gas containing chlorobenzene. The performance of P. chrysosporium bioreactor was examined under different conditions. Results showed that the maximum removal efficiency of nearly 80% (average removal efficiency of 50%) could be reached under the condition of chlorobenzene inlet concentration of 200-1500 mg/m3 and the empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 122 s. While the maximum chlorobenzene removal rate of 94 g/(m3 x h) [average removal efficiency o f 60 g/(m3 x h)] had been achieved within chlorobenzene inlet concentration of 500- 1500 mg/m3 and at the flow rate of 0.5 m3/h. Furthermore, the removal rates of the bioreactor at different flow rates were also examined, suggesting that the response of removal rate to the change of inlet loading was dependent on the flow rate. Lower flow rate could promote the extent of removal rate enhancement compared to the higher flow rate. Moreover, the profile of chlorobenzene concentration along the height of the biofilter showed a nonlinear decrease trend.