Nutrient Limitation in a Compost Biofilter Degrading Hexane |
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| Authors: | Eberhard Morgenroth Daniel PY Chang Kate M Scow |
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| Institution: | 1. Institute for Water Quality Control and Waste Management, Technical University Munich , Garching , Germany;2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of California , Davis , California;3. Department of Land Air and Water Resources , University of California , Davis , California |
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| Abstract: | Abstract A laboratory-scale compost-based biofilter was operated over a six-month period to study the requirements for removal of n-hexane from air. Hexane is a relatively short chain aliphatic hydrocarbon with a high Henry's coefficient and a low water solubility. Acclimation of the biofilter was slow, but removal efficiencies around 80% were achieved after one month of operation. However, performance decreased during the next two months of operation to 50% removal efficiency. Nutrient limitation was proposed as a reason for the decrease in reactor performance. After the addition of a concentrated nitrogen solution, reactor performance increased almost immediately to >99%. Removal efficiency remained above 99% for the following two months of operation at inlet concentrations of 0.7 g/m3 (200 ppmv), at superficial bed velocities approaching 50 m/h, and empty bed residence times of about one minute. Thus, nutrient availability may well limit biofilter performance even in compost- based units. It was shown that nutrients can be added effectively in a soluble form if compost quality is poor and a method is proposed for the evaluation of compost quality. |
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