Biofiltration of volatile organic compounds

The removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from contaminated airstreams has become a major air pollution concern. Improvement of the biofiltration process commonly used for the removal of odorous compounds has led to a better control of key parameters, enabling the application of biofiltration...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied microbiology and biotechnology 2005-07, Vol.68 (1), p.16-22
Main Authors: MALHAUTIER, Luc, KHAMMAR, Nadia, BAYLE, Sandrine, FANLO, Jean-Louis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerobiosis
Air Pollutants - metabolism
Air pollution
Air Pollution - prevention & control
Anaerobiosis
Biodegradation, Environmental
Biofilters
Biofiltration
Biological and medical sciences
Biological treatment
Biological treatment of gaseous effluents
Bioreactors
Biotechnology
Carbon dioxide
Composition
Contaminants
Environment and pollution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Life Sciences
Methods
Microorganisms
Organic compounds
Pollutants
Porous materials
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds
Volatilization
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Summary:The removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from contaminated airstreams has become a major air pollution concern. Improvement of the biofiltration process commonly used for the removal of odorous compounds has led to a better control of key parameters, enabling the application of biofiltration to be extended also to the removal of VOCs. Moreover, biofiltration, which is based on the ability of micro-organisms to degrade a large variety of compounds, proves to be economical and environmentally viable. In a biofilter, the waste gas is forced to rise through a layer of packed porous material. Thus, pollutants contained in the gaseous effluent are oxidised or converted into biomass by the action of microorganisms previously fixed on the packing material. The biofiltration process is then based on two principal phenomena: (1) transfer of contaminants from the air to the water phase or support medium, (2) bioconversion of pollutants to biomass, metabolic end-products, or carbon dioxide and water. The diversity of biofiltration mechanisms and their interaction with the microflora mean that the biofilter is defined as a complex and structured ecosystem. As a result, in addition to operating conditions, research into the microbial ecology of biofilters is required in order better to optimise the management of such biological treatment systems.
ISSN:0175-7598
1432-0614
DOI:10.1007/s00253-005-1960-z