Removal of ethylacetate vapor from waste gases by a trickle-bed air biofilter

Biofilter system is a relatively new process that has been proven to be mon cost-effective than traditional technologies such as carbon adsorption, liquid scrubbing, condensation, thermal incineration, and catalytic incineration for removing low-strength volatile organic compounds from waste gases. The trickle-bed air biofilter (TBAB) performance for ethylacetate (EA) removal was evaluated under different influent loadings. In the pseudo-steady states, the elimination capacity increased, but the removal efficiency decreased with increased influent loading. More than 95 and 90% removal efficiencies could be achieved for EA loadings below 490 and 810 g m(-3) h(-1), respectively. The TBAB appears to be very effective for controlling EA emission under low to high loading conditions, and the effectiveness could be maintained over 190 days of laboratory operation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.