Efficiency of biological activator formulated material (BAFM) for volatile organic compounds removal--preliminary batch culture tests with activated sludge

Environ Technol. 2012 Jul-Aug;33(13-15):1671-6. doi: 10.1080/09593330.2011.641592.

Abstract

During biological degradation, such as biofiltration of air loaded with volatile organic compounds, the pollutant is passed through a bed packed with a solid medium acting as a biofilm support. To improve microorganism nutritional equilibrium and hence to enhance the purification capacities, a Biological Activator Formulated Material (BAFM) was developed, which is a mixture of solid nutrients dissolving slowly in a liquid phase. This solid was previously validated on mineral pollutants: ammonia and hydrogen sulphide. To evaluate the efficiency of such a material for biodegradation of some organic compounds, a simple experiment using an activated sludge batch reactor was carried out. The pollutants (sodium benzoate, phenol, p-nitrophenol and 2-4-dichlorophenol) were in the concentration range 100 to 1200 mg L(-1). The positive impact of the formulated material was shown. The improvement of the degradation rates was in the range 10-30%. This was the consequence of the low dissolution of the nutrients incorporated during material formulation, followed by their consumption by the biomass, as shown for urea used as a nitrogen source. Owing to its twofold interest (mechanical resistance and nutritional supplementation), the Biological Activator Formulated Material seems to be a promising material. Its addition to organic or inorganic supports should be investigated to confirm its relevance for implementation in biofilters.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / metabolism*
  • Batch Cell Culture Techniques
  • Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis
  • Biomass
  • Biotechnology / instrumentation
  • Biotechnology / methods*
  • Chlorophenols / metabolism
  • Filtration / instrumentation
  • Filtration / methods*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Nitrophenols / metabolism
  • Organic Chemicals / metabolism
  • Phenol / metabolism
  • Sewage
  • Sodium Benzoate / metabolism
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / metabolism*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Chlorophenols
  • Nitrophenols
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Sewage
  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • Phenol
  • Sodium Benzoate
  • 2,4-dichlorophenol
  • 4-nitrophenol