Biofilter performance of pine nuggets and lava rock as media

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 102; no. 8; pp. 4974 - 4980
• Main Authors: Akdeniz, Neslihan, Janni, Kevin A., Salnikov, Ilya A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: air flow; ammonia; Bark; bark mulches; Biofilter; biofilters; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Contact; durability; Filtration - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geology; Greenhouse gas; hydrogen sulfide; Lava; Lava rock; Media; methane; nitrous oxide; Nitrous oxides; Odor; Pine; Pine nuggets; Pinus; Pinus - metabolism; Pressure; Reduction; Relative humidity; Rock; rocks; wood chips; Pine nuggets; Biofilter; Lava rock; Odor; Greenhouse gas; Lava; Rocks
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.01.058

[Display omitted] ► Two alternative biofilter media (pine nuggets and lava rock) were compared. ► Three empty bed contact times and two moisture levels were tested. ► Lava rock had lower pressure drops and it settled down less. ► Gas phase reduction efficiencies of lava rock was higher than that of pine nuggets. ► Efficiencies were higher at 5s empty bed contact time and high moisture level. Wood chips and bark mulch are commonly used biofilter media because they are generally locally available and inexpensive. Nevertheless, these organic materials degrade and require replacement every 2–5years. In this study, airflow characteristics and gas reduction efficiencies of two alternative biofilter media (pine nuggets and lava rock) with high porosity and potentially longer service lives were evaluated at three empty bed contact times (1, 3, and 5s) and two moisture levels (82% and 90% relative humidity). The lava rock had a lower pressure drop across the media and maintained higher media depth. Gas reduction efficiencies were highest for lava rock at 5s empty bed contact time and 90% humidity. The reduction efficiencies at these conditions were 56%, 88%, 87%, 25%, and 0.7% for ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, total reduced sulfur, methane and nitrous oxide, respectively. Odor reduction up to 48% was observed but was not consistent.