Bioscrubbing of air contaminated with high concentrations of hydrocarbons
bookPart
Abstract: Bioscrubbing is a cleaning technique for waste air contaminated with biodegradable compounds. In the scrubber part of the bioscrubbing system, the contaminating compounds are absorbed in a water phase. The contaminated water is transported to the bioreactor, where the compounds are biodegraded by aerobic microorganisms (mainly to carbon dioxide, water, and biomass). The application range of bioscrubbing systems is mainly found in the biodegradation of odorous compounds in such sectors of industry as rendering plants, livestock farming, food industry, and foundries. The concentration of biodegradable compounds in the waste air streams is less than 100 - 500 mg/m<sup>3</sup> of air. In these cases, the bioreactor is an activated-sludge tank in which the microorganisms are suspended in water. Within the framework of the Dutch "Hydrocarbon 2000" Programme, many sectors of industry, with hydrocarbon concentrations in the waste gases often ranging from 0.5 to 5 g/m<sup>3</sup>, will have to reduce their hydrocarbon emissions stringently (e. g. chemicals industry, coating and painting industry, fibre production, chemical cleaning business). Most water-soluble hydrocarbons are biodegradable. Bioscrubbing may be promising in this field when bioreactor techniques can be used with high degradation capacities and a capability of accommodating fluctuating concentrations and longer periods of production stops. In these branches, bioscrubbing systems with active-carbon pellets having a buffer capacity for hydrocarbons, and acting as a support material for microorganisms, have better chances than conventional bioscrubbing systems with activated-sludge tanks. © 1992.
Topics
TNO Identifier
409861
ISSN
01661116
Publisher
Elsevier
Source title
Biotechniques for Air Pollution Abatement and Odour Control Policies
Editor(s)
Dragt, A.J.
Ham, J. van
Ham, J. van
Place of publication
Amsterdam
Pages
77-82
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