Off‐Gas Recycle for VOC Emission Control: Conceptual Model
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 3
Abstract
Capture and recycle of off‐gas from a complete‐mix activated‐sludge reactor was evaluated as an alternative VOC‐control strategy to reduce the volume and cost of off‐gas treatment. A mathematical model was developed to predict the fraction of individual influent VOC compounds that are biodegraded, stripped, and discharged in the liquid and gaseous effluents of an activated‐sludge reactor with off‐gas recycle. The model utilizes fundamental physical and biokinetic growth and substrate‐removal constants for each VOC. The results indicated that for a biodegradable VOC off‐gas recycle increased biodegradation and reduced stripping of the compound. The fate of a VOC depended on the relative magnitude of , , and rather than their absolute values. The fate of VOCs having certain combinations of these parameters can be controlled by process and operational parameters of the activated sludge and off‐gas recycle system. These benefits are obtained without additional energy utilization.
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Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 19, 1992
Published online: May 1, 1994
Published in print: May 1994
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