Treatment of Mixed Hydrogen Sulfide and Organic Vapors in a Rock Medium Biofilter

Authors: Chitwood, Derek E.; Devinny, Joseph S.

Source: Water Environment Research, Volume 73, Number 4, July/August 2001 , pp. 426-435(10)

Publisher: Water Environment Federation

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Abstract:

A pilot-scale biofilter was operated at a publicly owned treatment works to remove hydrogen sulfide and a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from waste gas streams. Lava rock was used for the medium, which averaged pH 4 during the study. The study itself was conducted in three phases. The bed volume was 9.8, 6.5, and 3.3 m³ in phases 1, 2, and 3, respectively, while the flowrate was approximately 17 m³/min throughout the study. The removal efficiency of hydrogen sulfide was consistently greater than 90% for all three phases and, despite low-pH conditions, weighted average VOC removal was greater than 70%. The lava rock provided a hospitable environment for microorganisms while causing low head loss (25 Pa at a load rate of 3.8 m/min). However, lava rock is susceptible to dissolution at low-pH conditions (the degree of dissolution depends on the source of the material).

Keywords: BIOFILTER; HYDROGEN SULFIDE; VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ODORS; LAVA ROCK

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.2175/106143001X139470

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