Biofiltration of industrial waste gases in trickle-bed bioreactors - Case study: trichloroethylene removal

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a very common air pollutant which has shown some characteristics that make its biodegradation particoularly stiff. TCE removal has been here exploited using a pilot-scale biotrickling filter operating counter-current and with a mixed compost-inert carrier bed. Bioreactor operated for longer than four months obtaining a maximum elimination capacity of 3.17 g/(m3h) and a removal efficiency between 50 and 85%. Pressure drop and pH inside the bed remained constant during the test not affecting bioreactor performance. Using both organic and inert carrier has likely reduced bed compaction and carrier acidification. Data of elimination capacity were fitted using an original Ottengraf-modified model for the steady state conditions.