Liquid film effects for the removing of toluene emission via a trickling bio filter

Experiment was conducted to check-up the effects of liquid film for the removing of toxic gaseous pollutants, especially for the removing of substances, which are difficult to be solved in water such as toluene emission. Artificial toluene emission has been made in laboratory. In this study a trickling filter was chosen as biological reactor and we introduced a biological technique to enhance the removal of gaseous pollutant such as toluene emission. This method was to create a liquid flow through the trickling filter (bioreactor). The autotrophic culture was enriched in the laboratory reactor. The exposure to carbon dioxide was continuously carried out with a cyclic flow of nutrient medium in the reactor, which causes activity and increase of autotrophic culture. The microorganisms adhere to the rough surface of the leca stones. The adjustment of the concentration of toluene gases was done by the use of compressed air. Under in this bioreactor, the elimination rate of toluene was achieved to 86 %. The results were improved significantly by limiting the liquid flow (liquid film) through the reactor and the removal of toluene was increased to 100 %.

Keywords:

Bioreactor , toluene , gaseous pollutants