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Biological Removal of Chloroform in a Controlled Trickle Bed Air Biofilter under Acidic Conditions

Palanisamy, Keerthisaranya
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin147981664247255

Abstract Details

2016, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Environmental Engineering.
This dissertation includes a detailed review on the application of two different biofiltration systems, 1. Classical biofilters and 2. Biotrickling filters, for the removal of various air pollutants. The biofiltration of volatile organic compounds, fuel emissions, biogas, off gases and malodorous gases are studied in detail. The removal mechanisms including aerobic and anaerobic processes involved in the breakdown of the gas phase contaminants within natural and synthetic biofiltration units are studied. This is followed by an experimental evaluation of the performance of a controlled trickle bed air biofilter (TBAB) for the removal of chloroform. Chloroform is a higher chlorinated methane and a highly volatile compound. It is directly emitted into the atmosphere through several industrial sources such as pharmaceutical, pulp and paper industries. It is also formed as a byproduct of chlorination disinfection in water and wastewater sources and subsequently volatilized into the atmosphere. Chloroform, also known as trichloromethane, contains three chlorine atoms making it very recalcitrant and stable in the environment. It is also a highly hydrophobic compound making it an extremely difficult candidate for biodegradation. In this study, this challenge is overcome by evaluating the biodegradation potential of chloroform in the presence of a cometabolite, ethanol, and using filamentous fungi as the principle biodegrading consortium within the TBAB. The TBAB receives chloroform and ethanol in its gas phase and enriching nutrients in a buffered liquid phase. Chloroform and Ethanol were supplied at different feed ratios including 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, 1:30, 1:40 with ethanol concentrations ranging from 25 to 200 ppmv. A removal efficiency of 80.9% was observed when treating 5 ppmv of chloroform with 200 ppmv of ethanol and an elimination capacity of 0.238 g/m³.h was achieved. The study further extends to the determination of the removal kinetics for chloroform and quantifying the COD consumption and nitrogen utilization rates of filamentous fungi species. In addition, an extensive carbon mass balance is performed to identify the usage of carbon within the biofilter. The thesis is concluded by evaluating all points for improvement and drawing vital conclusions from the experimental research. Future recommendations for the enhanced treatment of chloroform in the trickle bed air biofilter are also highlighted.
George Sorial, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Soryong Chae, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
E Sahle-Demessie, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
78 p.
Environmental Engineering
Trickle Bed Air Biofilter; Chloroform; Ethanol; filamentous fungi; Cometabolism; Biotrickling filter

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Palanisamy, K. (2016). Biological Removal of Chloroform in a Controlled Trickle Bed Air Biofilter under Acidic Conditions [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin147981664247255

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Palanisamy, Keerthisaranya. Biological Removal of Chloroform in a Controlled Trickle Bed Air Biofilter under Acidic Conditions. 2016. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin147981664247255.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Palanisamy, Keerthisaranya. "Biological Removal of Chloroform in a Controlled Trickle Bed Air Biofilter under Acidic Conditions." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin147981664247255

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin147981664247255
329
© 2016, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Biological Removal of Chloroform in a Controlled Trickle Bed Air Biofilter under Acidic Conditions by Keerthisaranya Palanisamy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.