Potential Improvement in Biofilter Design through the Use of Heterogeneous Packing and a Conical Biofilter Geometry
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 4
Abstract
Due to the heterogeneous distribution of microbial activities in a biofilter, biomass accumulation and clogging often occurs in the inlet sections, leading to a considerable increase in the total pressure drop and shortening of the bed material life span. We propose two new design concepts to optimize biofilter performance and reduce pressure drop by distributing biomass or pressure drop more homogeneously. One concept involves using a heterogenous packing system where the biologically more active inlet sections have larger particles and the less active outlet sections have smaller particles. This provides a more even distribution of microbial activity and pollutant degradation, resulting in a considerable reduction in the total pressure drop. The other concept involves using a conical biofilter geometry instead of the conventional cylindrical form. The varying cross-sectional area counteracts an uneven distribution of microbial activities and thus achieves a more uniform pressure drop along a biofilter. Experimental and/or simulation results showed that heterogeneous packing and conical geometry could result in more cost-effective biofiltration.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Biofiltration Consortium at the Pulp & Paper Centre at the University of Toronto: Aracruz Cellulose S.A. (Brazil), Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc., Domtar Inc., Georgia Pacific Corp., Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd. (Japan), and Weyerhaeuser Company and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
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© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 21, 2002
Accepted: Dec 23, 2003
Published online: Apr 1, 2005
Published in print: Apr 2005
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