Title: Characteristics of benzene, toluene and xylene gas removal by a biofilter using scoria

Authors: Joong Kyun Kim, Sang-Kyu Kam, Min-Gyu Lee

Addresses: Division of Food and Life Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 608-739, Korea. ' Division of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cheju National University, Jeju 690-756, Korea. ' Division of Applied Chemical Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 608-739, Korea

Abstract: The biodegradation experiments of Benzene, Toluene and Xylene (BTX) by bacillus culture were carried out. In batch biodegradation experiments of binary mixtures, benzene degradation was inhibited by the presence of either toluene or xylene and toluene degradation was inhibited by the presence of either benzene or xylene. However, xylene degradation was stimulated when xylene was present in a mixture with either benzene or toluene to some extent. In biofilter experiments packed with scoria, benzene and toluene were removed over 90% and xylene was removed over 80% with EBCT between 10 s and 60 s when each concentration was kept constantly at 600 ppmv.

Keywords: biofilters; biofiltration; scoria; benzene; toluene; xylene; Bacillus sp; biodegradation; air pollution; air quality; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.028690

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.39 No.3/4, pp.264 - 278

Published online: 23 Sep 2009 *

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