Hydrogen sulphide and VOC removal in biotrickling filters: Comparison of data from a full-scale, low-emission unit with kinetic models. (23rd November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beigi, B.H.M.; Thorpe, R.B.; Ouki, S.; Winter, P.; Waalkens, A.
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 208(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-11-23
• Subjects: Biotrickling Filter -- Biofiltration -- H2S -- VOC -- Model -- Odour; BTF biotrickling filter -- EBRT Empty Bed Retention Time -- M-M Michaelis-Menten -- OCU Odour Control Unit -- STW Sewage Treatment Works (also known as Waste Water Treatment Plant); Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2019.06.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Highlights: Data from a full-sized biotrickling filter at a Sewage Treatment Works is published. A novel performance equation is derived based on Michaelis Menten kinetics. The novel equation fits the data for H2 S removal better than existing equations. The rate constant is consistent with those published for higher H2 S loadings. Abstract: In this paper, data is published on the removal of H2 S and VOCs by a biotrickling filter (BTF) demonstration plant, namely a SULPHUS™, which was installed by Thames Water in late 2015. These data, along with some data already published by Sempere et al. (2018), were compared to the predictions of a number of existing and novel models for the removal of a single pollutant by a biofilm. The two widely used models of Ottengraf and van den Oever (1983) were found to be inadequate with sum of squares of errors of 11 and 41 mg 2 m −6 respectively. These models are based on zero-order kinetics in the biofilm which according to the M-M kinetic model, are likely to be inaccurate at low pollutant concentration. The odour control unit was designed to produce low emission levels of less than 1 mg m −3 of H2 S, rendering the zero-order assumption unlikely to be accurate. A model based on first-order kinetics, which also has some support in the literature, was found to be a better, but not a good, fit to the data with a sum of squares of errors of 4.7 mg 2 m −6 . A novel model for the BTF based on M-M kinetics was found to be a good fit to the shape of the data with the lowest sum of squares of errors of 2.5 mg 2 m −6 . This novel M-M model was also identified as the best fit for VOC data from the same unit. Other publications support the M-M approach with a product of saturation constant and Henry's Law constant of about 50 mg m −3, which is equivalent to an H2 S level in the gas phase of about 40 ppmv. Broad agreement was found between the SULPHUS™ experiments and data in the literature for other BTFs destroying H2 S under the zero-order regime, at V max value of about 0.3 g/m 3 /s. This paper represents an attempt to harmonise a literature that was previously disparate, which has not previously been attempted.