Kinetics of the bio-oxidation of volatile reduced sulphur compounds in a biotrickling filter

Abstract

Mixtures of volatile reduced sulphur compounds (VRSCs) like hydrogen sulphide (H(2)S), methylmercaptan (MM), dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) are found in gaseous emissions of several industrial activities creating nuisance in the surroundings. Hydrogen sulphide (H(2)S) decreases the removal efficiency of volatile reduced sulphur compounds (VRSCs) in biofilters but the kinetics of this effect is still unknown. Kinetic expressions that represent the rate of bio-oxidation of H(2)S, MM, DMS and DMDS are proposed. In order to observe and quantify this effect, equimolar mixtures of MM, DMS and DMDS were fed into a biotrickling filter inoculated with Thiobacillus thioparus at different H(2)S loads. Experimental results shown a good agreement with the simulations generated by the model considering the kinetic equations proposed. The estimated kinetic constants show that H(2)S and MM have a significant inhibitory effect on the bio-oxidation of DMS and DMDS, having the H(2)S the higher effect.