Removal of dichloromethane from waste gases using a fixed-bed biotrickling filter and a continuous stirred tank bioreactor

Abstract

[Abstract] A laboratory scale fixed bed biotrickling filter (BTF) and a continuous stirred tank bioreactor (CSTB) have been studied and compared for the elimination of dichloromethane from waste gases. The DCM removal efficiency in the trickling filter was > 85% for inlet loads up to 25 g.m-3.h-1 and a maximal removal capacity of about 170 g.m-3.h-1 was achieved at a load of 350 g.m-3.h-1. The continuous stirred tank bioreactor showed removal efficiencies > 90% for inlet loads up to 120 g.m-3.h-1. At this load the maximal removal capacity of the system was reached, i.e. about 100 g.m-3.h-1. Thus, higher maximum elimination capacities were reached in the BTF while higher removal efficiencies were obtained at high loads with the CSTB. Both systems presented good stability against overloads.