Experimental Study of Biodegradation of Ethanol and Toluene Vapors

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PERMISSION TO USE……………………………………………………i
ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ………………………………………………vi
DEDICATION …………………………………………………………….vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS …………………………………………………viii
LIST OF FIGURES ………………………………………………………xii
LIST OF TABLES ………………………………………………………..xvii
NOMENCLATURE ………………………………………………………xviii
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
1.1 Air Pollution in North America …………………………….1
1.2 Research Objectives ………………………………………4
1.3 Structure of the Thesis ……………………………………...4
CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Non-Biological Treatments of Volatile Organic Compounds…...8
2.2 Bioremediation of VOCs ……………………………………….11
2.2.1 Biofiltration……………………………………………11
2.2.1.1 Ethanol Removal by Biofiltration…………...12
2.2.1.2 Toluene Removal by Biofiltration…………..14
2.2.2 Biotrickling Filter……………………………………..15
2.2.3 Bioscrubbers…………………………………………..17
2.2.4 Liquid Phase Bioreactor ………………………………17
2.2.5 Comparison of VOC Treatment Techniques…………..20
2.2.6 Pseudomonas ………………………………………….23
2.3 Modeling of Microbial Growth ……………………………….23
2.3.1 Monod Model ……………………………………….23
2.3.2 Growth Models with Inhibition ……………………….25
2.3.3 Growth on Multiple Substrates ………………………26
2.3.4 Metabolic Modeling…………………………………...27
2.4 Ideal Reactors……………………………………………………28
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