Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B
ISSN 1673-1581(Print), 1862-1783(Online), Monthly

2009   Vol. 10   No. 8   p. 595~601

Performance of biotrickling filters for hydrogen sulfide removal under starvation and shock loads conditions

Lan-he ZHANG^†1,2, Xiu-li MENG¹, Ying WANG¹, Li-dan LIU¹

(¹School of Chemical Engineering, Northeast Dianli University, Jilin 132012, China)
(²Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China)
^†E-mail: zhanglanhe@163.com
Received Mar. 1, 2009; revision accepted July 1, 2009; Crosschecked July 7, 2009

Abstract: In the industrial operation of biotrickling filters for hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) removal, shock loads or starvation was common due to process variations or equipment malfunctions. In this study, effects of starvation and shock loads on the performance of biotrickling filters for H₂S removal were investigated. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the changes of biomass and viable bacteria numbers in the biotrickling filters during a 24-d starvation. Compared to biomass, viable bacteria numbers decreased significantly during the starvation, especially when airflow was maintained in the absence of spray liquid. During the subsequent re-acclimation, all the bioreactors could resume high removal efficiencies within 4 d regardless of the previous starvation conditions. The results show that the re-acclimation time, in the case of biotrickling filters for H₂S removal, is mainly controlled by viable H₂S oxidizing bacteria numbers. On the other hand, the biotrickling filters can protect against shock loads in inlet fluctuating H₂S concentration after resuming normal operation. When the biotrickling filters were supplied with H₂S at an input of lower than 1700 mg/m³, their removal efficiencies were nearly 98% regardless of previous H₂S input.

Key words: Biotrickling filter, Starvation, Shock loads, Odor, Hydrogen sulfide
doi:10.1631/jzus.B0920064             CLC number: X512

References:

[1] Bandosz, T.J., 2002. On the adsorption/oxidation of hydrogen sulfide on activated carbons at ambient temperatures. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 246(1):1-20.

[2] Bouzaza, A., Laplanche, A., Marsteau, S., 2004. Adsorption oxidation of hydrogen sulfide on activated carbon fibers: effect of the composition and the relative humidity of the gas phase. Chemosphere, 54(4):481-488.

[3] Cox, H.H.J., Deshusses, M.A., 2002. Co-treatment of H₂S and toluene in a biotrickling filter. Chemical Engineering Journal, 87(1):101-110.

[4] Hartikainen, T., Martikainen, P.J., Olkkonen, M., Ruuskanen, J., 2002. Peat biofilters in long-term experiments for removing odorous sulphur compounds. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 133(1-4):335-348.

[5] Jiang, X., Yan, R., Tay, J.H., 2009. Transient-state biodegradation behavior of a horizontal biotrickling filter in co-treating gaseous H₂S and NH₃. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 81(5):969-975.

[6] Jin, Y.M., Veiga, M.C., Christian, K., 2007. Co-treatment of hydrogen sulfide and methanol in a single-stage biotrickling filter under acidic conditions. Chemosphere, 68(6):1186-1193.

[7] Lee, J.H., Trimm, D.L., Cant, N.W., 1999. The catalytic combustion of methane and hydrogen sulphide. Catalysis Today, 47(1-4):353-357.

[8] Le Leuch, L.M., Subrenat, A., Le Cloirec, P., 2003. Hydrogen sulfide adsorption and oxidation onto activated carbon cloths: applications to odorous gaseous emission treatments. Langmuir, 19(26):10869-10877.

[9] Liu, Y.H., Xie, Q., Zhao, Y.Z., Chen, S., Zhao, H., 2005. Removal of ternary VOCs in air streams at high loads using a compost-based biofilter. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 23(1):85-95.

[10] Potivichayanon, S., Pokethitiyook, P., Kruatrachue, M., 2006. Hydrogen sulfide removal by a novel fixed-film bioscrubber system. Process Biochemistry, 41(3):708-715.

[11] Wani, A.H., Branion, R.M.R., Lau, A.K., 1998. Effects of periods of starvation and fluctuating hydrogen sulfide concentration on biofilter dynamics and performance. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 60(3):287-303.

[12] Xie, W.M., Zhang, L.H., Wang, Q.H., Chen, H.J., Bo, X., 2003. Treatment of odor containing hydrogen sulfide released in the wastewater of pharmaceutical company by high efficient bioreactor with the packed stuffing. Environmental Science, 24(6):74-78 (in Chinese).