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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treatment, This excessive biomass formation should be prevented by limiting the<br />
amount <strong>of</strong> inorganic nutrients available for growth.<br />
2.2.3 Bioscrubbers<br />
In bioscrubbers, contaminated gas is contacted generally with water in a<br />
spraying tower with inert packing resulting in absorption <strong>of</strong> toxic compounds from the<br />
air into the water phase, followed by the biological treatment <strong>of</strong> the contaminated water.<br />
Thus, a bioscrubber consists <strong>of</strong> a scrubber <strong>and</strong> a bioreactor with activated sludge. The<br />
aqueous phase (<strong>of</strong>ten with suspended microorganisms) is continuously recirculated over<br />
the two separate units. In contrast to bi<strong>of</strong>ilters, the liquid phase in the bioscrubbers is<br />
mobile, which allows better control <strong>of</strong> the reaction conditions. In addition, temperature,<br />
pH <strong>and</strong> ionic strength can be monitored <strong>and</strong> controlled more easily (van Groenestijn <strong>and</strong><br />
Hesselink, 1993). A drawback compared to bi<strong>of</strong>ilters is the lower specific gas/liquid<br />
surface area. Bioscrubbers are restricted mainly to the removal <strong>of</strong> the water-soluble<br />
compounds from the air. In the bioscrubbing system, the two units can also be<br />
integrated where the contaminant is transferred from the gas phase to the liquid phase<br />
<strong>and</strong> biodegraded.<br />
2.2.4 Liquid Phase Bioreactor<br />
Volatile organic chemicals from waste gas can act as energy sources for<br />
microbial growth. The purification <strong>of</strong> waste gases by microorganisms (primarily<br />
bacteria) is carried out as the microorganisms search for food sources for growth. The<br />
microbes consume the pollutants from the surrounding aqueous phase, which in turn<br />
absorbs the pollutants from the gas phase. Thus, the mass transfer <strong>of</strong> the pollutants into<br />
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