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Published on: October 15, 2015
Steady- and transient-state H2S biofiltration using expanded schist as packing material.
A C Romero Hernandez1, M S Rodríguez Susa, Y Andrès
1Departamento de Ingeniería Civil y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
New Biotechnology
|July 25, 2012
Summary
Expanded schist biofilters effectively remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Adding nutritional material (UP20) significantly enhanced H2S removal capacity in biofilters, demonstrating improved performance.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Chemistry
Background:
- Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a common air pollutant with significant environmental and health impacts.
- Biofiltration is a promising technology for H2S removal, but its efficiency can be limited by media properties and nutrient availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of expanded schist biofilters for H2S removal.
- To investigate the effect of a nutritional material (UP20) and activated sludge inoculation on H2S removal efficiency and elimination capacity.
- To model the H2S removal process using Michaelis-Menten and Haldane kinetics.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory-scale biofilters (BF1, BF2, BF3) were operated at varying empty bed residence times (EBRT).
- Biofilters were packed with expanded schist, with BF3 also containing nutritional material (UP20).
- BF1 and BF3 were inoculated with activated sludge; BF2 was not inoculated.
Main Results:
- A maximum elimination capacity (EC) of 42 g m(-3) h(-1) was achieved for BF3 at an EBRT of 35 s.
- The addition of UP20 significantly improved H2S removal efficiency and elimination capacity.
- Expanded schist demonstrated its capability to handle high H2S loading rates.
Conclusions:
- Expanded schist is an effective medium for H2S removal in biofilters.
- Nutritional supplementation with UP20 enhances biofilter performance for H2S treatment.
- Biofilter performance can be modeled using Michaelis-Menten and Haldane kinetics, and their response to shock loads is crucial for practical application.
