Mathematical Model of Biofiltration of VOCs: Effect of Nitrate Concentration and Backwashing
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 127, Issue 7
Abstract
The affect of nitrate concentration and reactor backwashing on biofilter performance is evaluated using a dynamic mathematical model of the biodegradation process of volatile organic compounds in a trickle bed biofilter packed with uniform synthetic solids. Experimental observations from a bench-scale biofilter system treating ether were used to develop and validate the model. Experience acquired in biofiltration of volatile organic compounds has demonstrated that although these two factors—nitrate and backwashing—are secondary when organic packing material is used, they are essential when the packing media is synthetic. The operation of a synthetic media packed reactor requires the addition of nutrients necessary for biodegradation. Since nitrate was utilized as the nitrogen source in this system, it was included in the model as a limiting substrate (nutrient). A negative affect of excessive accumulation of biomass in the reactor on biofilter performance has also been observed in highly loaded synthetic media biofilters. This problem was solved by removing excessive biomass via full media fluidization and backwashing of the reactor. The affect of periodic backwashing was included in the model as a reduction in the biofilm thickness and a new approach to calculate the reactor specific surface area after backwashing. The unknown model parameters that correspond to nitrate limitations were estimated. The mathematical model was then used for simulation and analyses of the affect of these two factors on the biodegradation process.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Alonso, C. ( 1999). “Modeling of VOC degradation in gas streams.” PhD thesis, Univ. of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2.
Alonso, C., et al. ( 1997). “Gas treatment in trickle-bed biofilters: Biomass, how much is enough?” Biotechnology Bioengineering, 54, 583–549.
3.
Alonso, C., Suidan, M. T., Kim, B. R., and Kim, B. J. ( 1998). “Dynamical mathematical model for the biodegradation of VOCs in a biofilter. Biomass accumulation study.” Envir. Sci. and Technol., 32(20), 3118–3123.
4.
Alonso, C., Zhu, X., Suidan, M. T., Kim, B. R., and Kim, B. J. ( 1999). “Mathematical model for the biodegradation of VOCs in trickle bed biofilters.” Water Sci. and Technol., 39(7), 139–146.
5.
Alonso, C., Zhu, X., Suidan, M. T., Kim, B. R., and Kim, B. J. ( 2000). “Parameter estimation in biofilter systems.” Envir. Sci. and Technol., 34(11), 2318–2324.
6.
Deshusses, M. A., Hamer, G., and Dunn, I. J. ( 1995). “Behavior of biofilters for waste air biotreatment. 2. Experimental evaluation of a dynamic model.” Envir. Sci. and Technol., 29, 1059–1068.
7.
Gujer, W., and Wanner, O. ( 1990). “Modeling mixed population biofilms.” Biofilms. W. G. Characklis and K. C. Marshall, eds., Chapter 11, Wiley, New York, 397–443.
8.
Henze, M., Grady, Jr., C. P. L., Gujer, W., Marais, G. R., and Matsuo, T. ( 1987). “A general model for single sludge wastewater treatment systems.” Water Res., 21(5), 505–515.
9.
Jennings, P. A., Snoeyink, V. L., and Chian, E. S. K. ( 1976). “Theoretical model for a submerged biological filter.” Biotechnology Bioengineering, 18, 1249–1273.
10.
Okkerse, W. J. H., Ottengraf, S. P. P., Osinga-Kuipers, B., and Okkerse, M. ( 1999). “Biomass accumulation and clogging in biotrickling filters for waste gas treatment. Evaluation of a dynamic model using dichloromethane as a model pollutant.” Biotechnology Bioengineering, 63(4), 418–430.
11.
Rihn, M. J., Zhu, X., Suidan, M. T., Kim, B. J., and Kim, B. R. ( 1997). “The effect of nitrate on VOC removal in trickle bed biofilters.” Water Res., 31(12), 2997–3008.
12.
Shareefdeen, Z., and Baltzis, B. C. ( 1994). “Biofiltration of toluene vapor under steady-state and transient conditions: Theory and experimental results.” Chemical Engrg. Sci., 49(24A), 4347–4260.
13.
Shareefdeen, Z., Baltzis, B. C., Oh, Y. S., and Bartha, R. ( 1993). “Biofiltration of methanol vapor.” Biotechnology Bioengineering, 41, 512–524.
14.
Smith, F. L., Sorial, G. A., Suidan, M. T., Breen, A. W., Biswas, P., and Brenner, R. C. ( 1996). “Development of two biomass control strategies for extended, stable operation of highly efficient biofilters with high toluene loadings.” Envir. Sci. and Technol., 30, 1744– 1751.
15.
Sorial, G. A., Smith, F. L., Suidan, M. T., Biswas, P., and Brenner, R. C. ( 1995). “Evaluation of trickle bed biofilter media for toluene removal.” J. Air and Waste Mgmt., 45, 801–810.
16.
Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. (1992). 18th Ed., APHA, AWWA, and WEF.
17.
VanderLoop, S. L., Suidan, M. T., Moteleb, M. A., and Maloney, S. W. ( 1999). “Biotransformation of 2,4-DNT under different electron acceptor conditions.” Water Res., 33(5), 1287–1295.
18.
Wanner, O., and Gujer, W. ( 1986). “A multispecies biofilm model.” Biotechnology Bioengineering, 28, 314–328.
19.
Williamson, K., and McCarty, P. L. ( 1976). “A model of substrate utilization by bacterial films.” J. WPCF, 48, 9.
20.
Zarook, S. M., Shaikh, A. A., and Ansar, Z. ( 1997). “Development, experimental validation and dynamic analysis of a general transient biofilter model.” Chem. Engrg. Sci., 52(5), 759–773.
21.
Zhu, X., Rihn, M. J., Suidan, M. T., Kim, B. J., and Kim, B. R. ( 1996). “The effect of nitrate on VOC removal in trickle bed biofilters.” Water Sci. and Technol., 34(3-4), 573–581.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 127 • Issue 7 • July 2001
Pages: 655 - 664
History
Received: Jul 6, 1999
Published online: Jul 1, 2001
Published in print: Jul 2001
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.