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Biological Removal of Gaseous Ammonia in Biofilters: Space Travel and Earth-Based Applications
Gaseous NH 3 removal was studied in laboratory-scale biofilters (14-L reactor volume) containing perlite inoculated with a nitrifying enrichment culture. These biofilters received 6 L/min of airflow with inlet NH 3 concentrations of 20 or 50 ppm, and removed more than 99.99% of the NH 3 for the peri...
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Published in: | Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) 2000-09, Vol.50 (9), p.1647-1654 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Gaseous NH
3
removal was studied in laboratory-scale biofilters (14-L reactor volume) containing perlite inoculated with a nitrifying enrichment culture. These biofilters received 6 L/min of airflow with inlet NH
3
concentrations of 20 or 50 ppm, and removed more than 99.99% of the NH
3
for the period of operation (101, 102 days). Comparison between an active reactor and an autoclaved control indicated that NH
3
removal resulted from nitrification directly, as well as from enhanced absorption resulting from acidity produced by nitrification. Spatial distribution studies (20 ppm only) after 8 days of operation showed that nearly 95% of the NH
3
could be accounted for in the lower 25% of the biofilter matrix, proximate to the port of entry. Periodic analysis of the biofilter material (20 and 50 ppm) showed accumulation of the nitrification product NO
3
-
early in the operation, but later both NO
2
-
and NO
3
-
accumulated. Additionally, the N-mass balance accountability dropped from near 100% early in the experiments to ~95 and 75% for the 20- and 50-ppm biofilters, respectively. A partial contributing factor to this drop in mass balance accountability was the production of NO and N
2
O, which were detected in the biofilter exhaust. |
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ISSN: | 1096-2247 2162-2906 |
DOI: | 10.1080/10473289.2000.10464189 |