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  • Performance and macrokinetic analysis of biofiltration of toluene and p-xylene mixtures in a conventional biofilter packed with inert material.

Performance and macrokinetic analysis of biofiltration of toluene and p-xylene mixtures in a conventional biofilter packed with inert material.

Bioresource technology (2011-07-01)
G Gallastegui, A Avalos Ramirez, A Elías, J P Jones, M Heitz
ABSTRACT

Interactions of toluene and p-xylene in air treatment biofilters packed with an inert filter media were studied. The effect of the inlet load of toluene, p-xylene and mixtures of both compounds on the biodegradation rate was analyzed in three lab-scale biofilters. A maximum elimination capacity (EC) of 26.5 and 40.3 gCm(-3)h(-1) for an inlet load (IL) of 65.6 and 57.8 gCm(-3)h(-1) was obtained for p-xylene and toluene biofilters, respectively. Inhibition of p-xylene biodegradation by the presence of toluene took place when the mixture was treated, whereas the presence of p-xylene had an enhancing effect on the toluene removal efficiency. Specific growth rates (μ) from 0.019 to 0.068 h(-1) were calculated in the mixed biofilter, where the highest values were similar to mixtures with lower p-xylene levels (IL(p-Xyl) 8.84 ± 0.29 gCm(-3)h(-1)). Michaelis-Menten and Haldane type models were fitted to experimental EC for p-xylene and toluene biofilters, respectively.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
p-Xylene, anhydrous, ≥99%
Supelco
p-Xylene, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material
Supelco
p-Xylene, analytical standard
Sigma-Aldrich
p-Xylene, ReagentPlus®, 99%
Sigma-Aldrich
p-Xylene, puriss. p.a., ≥99.0% (GC)
Sigma-Aldrich
p-Xylene, suitable for HPLC, ≥99%