Removal of hydrogen sulphide from pig house using biofilter with fungi. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hansen, Michael J.; Pedersen, Claus L.; Søgaard Jensen, Louise H.; Guldberg, Lise B.; Feilberg, Anders; Nielsen, Lars P.
• Is Part Of: Biosystems engineering. Volume 167(2018)
• Page Start: 32
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Biofiltration of waste gases -- Chemical analysis -- Odours -- Sulphur compounds -- Microbiology; Bioengineering -- Periodicals; Agricultural engineering -- Periodicals; Biological systems -- Periodicals; Génie rural -- Périodiques; Systèmes biologiques -- Périodiques; 631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2017.12.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1537-5110

Abstract

Abstract : Biological air cleaners used for reducing emissions of odorants are often challenged by the low solubility of reduced sulphur compounds. In a recent study high removal of hydrogen sulphide (∼75%) from the exhaust air from a pig house was achieved using a biofilter. The aim of this study was to investigate if this high removal could be due to the presence of fungi. The removal of reduced sulphur compounds in a 600-mm wide cellulose biofilter was measured at depths of 0, 200, 400 and 600 mm and the results compared with estimated fungal hyphae surface area per biofilm area. Over 19 months, removal of hydrogen sulphide was measured during periods with and without fungi. The results demonstrate a correlation between the fungal hyphae surface area and the removal of hydrogen sulphide with the highest removal in the first 200 mm of the biofilter and decreasing removal with depth. During periods with presence of fungi, the removal of hydrogen sulphide (64%) was significantly higher than during periods without fungi (18%). It is hypothesised that the observed fungi oxidise hydrogen sulphide and may play a major role in biofilters treating air from pig houses due to the expansion of the active surface area caused by the hyphae. Highlights: Removal of hydrogen sulphide in a biofilter correlates with the presence of fungi. PTR-MS was applied for gas measurements in a cross-section of the biofilter. The main removal took place on the first 200 mm of the 600 mm wide biofilter. The biofilter removed more than 60% of hydrogen sulphide in the presence of fungi. Without visible fungi the biofilter removed less than 20% of hydrogen sulphide.