Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Compost Composites for Biofiltration of Swine Waste Volatiles

In this study, a Poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)/compost composite bead is prepared and is indicated suitable as a filter material for biofiltration. The optimal preparation process is with the compost size of 16–35 mesh, the ratio of water to compost of 40 g/15 g compost, and the immersion time in the phosphate solution of 60 min. The composite bead prepared by this process is a porous spherical particle with a diameter between 2.4 and 6.0 mm and a density of 0.96 g/cm³. It contains 9.43 mg P/g dry solid and 12.1 mg N/g dry solid. The equilibrium moisture content of the composite bead bed from adsorption and holding experiments is 50.5 and 54.6% on a wet basis respectively, which is about 1.74 times higher than that of swine manure compost bed. It corresponds to the optimal filter material required and is sufficient to sustain biological activity as the composite bead adsorbs equilibrium moisture. The bulk compressive strength of the composite bead bed is about 1.15 times larger than that of swine manure compost bed to ensure even distribution of air flow and reduce the head loss as the air flow stream passed through. The pH value of the filter bed could maintain in the 6.9–7.2 range during the operation period due to the composite bead has the phosphate buffer capacity. The percentage of ethyl acetate removal could remain at over 99% for 40 days operation while the composite beads adsorbed inorganic nitrate nutrients. The pressure drop of two kind composite beads and pig manure compost filter beds are 0 and 2 mm H₂O, respectively, after operating for 40 days.