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Experimental Study of Biodegradation of Ethanol and Toluene Vapors

Experimental Study of Biodegradation of Ethanol and Toluene Vapors

Experimental Study of Biodegradation of Ethanol and Toluene Vapors

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CHAPTER SIX – CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS<br />

6.1 CONCLUSIONS<br />

The original contributions <strong>of</strong> this research are that both high <strong>and</strong> low solubility<br />

VOCs (ethanol <strong>and</strong> toluene) can readily be captured <strong>and</strong> bioremediated using a<br />

traditional CSTR. The major conclusions are presented in the order <strong>of</strong> discoveries from<br />

mass transfer studies, from bioremediation studies, <strong>and</strong> from metabolic modeling.<br />

Specific discoveries from mass transfer studies include:<br />

• Mass transfer studies indicated that ethanol was transferred from a contaminated<br />

air stream into the liquid phase <strong>of</strong> a well-mixed bioreactor completely for gas<br />

inlet concentrations up to 95.0 mg/L <strong>and</strong> air flow rates up to 2 L/min.<br />

• <strong>Toluene</strong> mass transfer studies from contaminated air into the well-mixed<br />

bioreactor indicated that the overall mass transfer coefficient increases with<br />

agitation speeds from 300 to 600 rpm, reaching a high value <strong>of</strong> 1.0x10 -3 s -1 .<br />

• Oxygen mass transfer studies showed that the presence <strong>of</strong> ethanol in the liquid<br />

phase enhances oxygen overall mass transfer coefficients, with maximum<br />

measured values <strong>of</strong> 0.049 <strong>and</strong> 0.076 s -1<br />

at an ethanol concentration <strong>of</strong> 8g/L <strong>and</strong><br />

agitation speeds <strong>of</strong> 450 <strong>and</strong> 600 rpm, respectively.<br />

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