Bioremediation of industrial VOC air pollutants
Date
2006-03-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Doctoral
Abstract
An External Loop Airlift Bioreactor with a small amount (99% porosity) of stainless steel mesh packing inserted in the riser section was used for bioremediation of a phenol polluted air stream. The packing enhanced VOC and oxygen mass transfer rates and provided a large surface area for cell immobilization. Using a pure strain of Pseudomonas putida, fed-batch and continuous runs at three different dilution rates were completed with phenol in the polluted air as the only source of growth substrate. 100% phenol removal was achieved at phenol loading rates up to 33120 mg/h.m3 using only one third of the column, superior to any previously reported biodegradation rates of phenol polluted air with 100% efficiency. A mathematical model has been developed and is shown to accurately predict the transient and steady state data.
Description
Keywords
Bioremediation, Biofilm, Phenol, Loop Bioreactor, Packed Bed Bioreactor, Air Pollution, Mass Transfer
Citation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Chemical Engineering
Program
Chemical Engineering