Analytical Model of Dual-Media Biofilter for Removal of Organic Air Pollutants

Abstract

A steady-state mathematical model is presented to describe the kinetics of volatile organic compound (VOC) removal in biofilters that consist of a mixed compost and granular activated carbon (GAC) medium. The model describes the basic transport of VOCs from the gas phase into the liquid phase of the compost biofilm and into the carbon particles, using the assumptions of diffusion as characterized by Fick's law. The kinetics of biological degradation of substrate (pollutant) in the compost biofilm are assumed to follow a Monod-like relationship. Experimental data were compared with model predictions under steady-state conditions for treatment of a mixture of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o-xylene (BTEX) vapors. Best results were obtained when model applications were divided according to first-order biodegradation kinetics for relatively low influent concentrations (<50 ppm) of pollutants and zero-order reaction for higher (235–440 ppm) influent concentrations. In both instances, the model produced suitable approximation of experimental bed depth versus concentration profiles at steady state for individual compounds in biofilters containing small but varying amounts of GAC. The presence of GAC improved BTEX removal efficiencies over a biofilter containing only compost.