CO sub(2) Response to Doses of Organic Solvents Biodegraded in a Batch Biofilter

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2006-09, Vol.175 (1-4), p.33-48
• Main Authors: Fang, Yuanxiang, Govind, Rakesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-006-9107-0

Carbon dioxide served as a proxy for biodegradation in the biofiltration of multiple organic solvents in a batch biofilter. The solvents were injected into the batch biofilter system and were biodegraded with the biomass immobilized on a column of fibrous media; the immobilized biomass was acclimated to ethanol in a continuous biofilter. Time profiles of CO sub(2) concentration were obtained for substrate utilization and for biomass endogenous respiration. The CO sub(2) and substrate concentration profiles provided insight for the biodegradation of multiple substrates in a biofilter. Experimental results indicate that the biomass utilized the solvents simultaneously but at different rates. The utilization rates were in the order: acetaldehyde > ethanol > propanol > isopropanol, acetone > methanol > butanol. Isopropanol was transformed to acetone, which was then utilized and converted to CO sub(2), and propanol was also utilized through the formation of an intermediate. The biodegradation of ethanol was inhibited by acetaldehyde. Total CO sub(2) production was contributed by the endogenous respiration of the biomass as well as by the biodegradation of all the substrates present to the biomass, and the total CO sub(2) rate might not reach its maximum potential.