Autotrophic deodorization of hydrogen sulfide in a biotrickling filter

Abstract

The removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from airstreams was studied in a biotrickling filter (BTF) packed with plastic Pall rings operating with counter-current flows of the air and liquid streams. Experiments were performed at different inlet H2S concentrations, air and/or liquid volumetric flow rates, and sulfate concentrations in the recirculating liquid to check their effect on the performance of the BTF. Conversion of H2S never dropped below 80% at the highest concentration and reached 100% at low concentrations. A maximum removal rate of 22.5 g H2S m−3 reactor h−1 was observed with 100% removal efficiency. The shortest empty bed retention time studied at which complete H2S removal was observed was around 11 s. Conversion of H2S was found to slightly increase as the liquid flow rate decreased and as the air flow rate increased.