Effect of saponins on n-hexane removal in biotrickling filters

Bioresour Technol. 2015 Jan:175:231-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.039. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

Abstract

Saponins was applied to enhance the removal of n-hexane in a biotrickling filter (BTF) in this study. Comparison experiments were carried out to examine the effect of saponins on n-hexane removal in two BTFs at various saponins concentrations, n-hexane loading rates (LRs) and gas empty bed contact times (EBCTs). Results show that the optimum concentration of saponins in nutrient feed was 50.0mgL(-1). When organic LR of n-hexane increased from 47.8 to 120.0gm(-3)h(-1), the removal efficiency (RE) for BTF1 (with saponins) and BTF2 (without saponins) decreased from 91.3% to 83.3% and from 62.8% to 56.8%, respectively. As gas EBCT decreased from 30.0 to 7.5s, the RE declined from 88.4% to 64.5% for BTF1 and from 61.4% to 38.3% for BTF2. Saponins could also decrease the biomass accumulation rate within the medium bed. These results could be referred in the design and operation of BTFs for hydrophobic VOC removal.

Keywords: Biofiltration; Biosurfactant; Saponins; Volatile organic compound; n-Hexane.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis
  • Air Pollutants / chemistry*
  • Biomass
  • Bioreactors
  • Filtration / methods
  • Hexanes / analysis
  • Hexanes / chemistry*
  • Saponins / chemistry*
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / chemistry
  • Waste Management / methods

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Hexanes
  • Saponins
  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • n-hexane