Effect of activated carbon as a buffer for biofilters treating dynamically varying VOC concentrations

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

12-1-2004

Abstract

The feasibility of using an integrated system consisting of a column packed with granular activated carbon in series before a biofilter was tested to determine its potential for mitigating the effects of unsteady-state loading. The model waste gas stream contained a two-component mixture of acetone and toluene at influent concentrations of 430 and 100 ppmv, respectively. To simulate loading conditions expected from an industrial process with intermittent operation, contaminated air was supplied for 8 hr/day, and uncontaminated air was supplied for 16 hr/day. The system was operated with an empty bed residence time of 10 sec for the activated carbon column and 58 sec for the biofilter. The activated carbon column effectively dampened the effects of the intermittent loading. The acetone concentration varied with time but to a much lower extent than would have occurred in the absence of the activated carbon column. The system achieved nearly complete removal of both contaminants within 20 days after biofilter start-up. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the AWMA 97th Annual Conference and Exhibition (Indianapolis, IN 6/22-25/2004).

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Proceedings of the Air and Waste Management Association's Annual Conference and Exhibition, AWMA

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