Removal of methanol vapors in a jet-loop bioscrubber equipped with a venturi injector

• Published in: Biochemical engineering journal 2022-07, Vol.185, p.108530, Article 108530
• Main Authors: Ordaz, Alberto, Mota-Gutierrez, Azucena, González-Iribarren, Eduardo, Ortega, Calixto, Thalasso, Frédéric
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air treatment; Bioscrubber; Gaseous pollutants; Hydrodynamics; KLa
• ISSN: 1369-703X; 1873-295X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2022.108530

A jet loop reactor equipped with a Venturi injector was used as a bioscrubber to treat air polluted with methanol. The oxygen transfer coefficient of the reactor was first characterized under abiotic conditions at different volumetric power inputs, ionic strengths and dynamic viscosities. The oxygen transfer coefficient (KLa) ranged 46.9–1272.82 h−1 with an actual volumetric power inputs from 3.6 to 21.5 kW m−3. Then, the reactor was inoculated with a mixed culture and applied for the treatment of air artificially polluted by methanol. Over 91 days, the actual volumetric power input was maintained at 11 kW m−3 and the KLa ranged from 720 to 860 h−1, while the volumetric loading rate was increased from of 5–60 g L−1 d−1 and the hydraulic residence time was increased from of 12–96 h. The volumetric methanol removal rate reached a maximum of 40.75 g L−1 d−1, at a removal efficiency of 67.6%. Under the optimal conditions tested, the microbial growth yield reached a minimum value of 0.11 g COD g−1 COD. These results suggest that high efficiency reactors such as the Venturi jet loop tested in the present work allow to reach high volumetric removal rates while maintaining low growth yield. [Display omitted] •A jet loop reactor (JLR) was designed and tested under abiotic and biotic conditions.•The reactor presented high oxygen transfer rates, superior to most reactor designs.•The JLR was applied for the treatment of high strength waste gas polluted by methanol.•A high methanol removal rate was observed together with a low microbial growth yield.•It is concluded that the JLR is a highly efficient alternative to standard reactors.