Removal of Low Concentration Toluene Vapor in a Biotrickling Filter

A laboratory-scale biotrickling filter packed with ceramic lasing rings is built to remove artificial toluene vapor. The performance of biotrickling filter under different superficial gas velocities and inlet toluene concentrations is evaluated. The start-up period is 6 days by using the novel "gas-liquid phase synchronic inoculation" method and adding the optimal components nutrient liquid. The experiments lasts 3 months, and different sets of continuous tests are conducted at an inlet toluene concentration ranging from 30 mg/m3 to 1 223 mg/m3 and at superficial gas velocities ranging from 123 m/h to 370 m/h (corresponding to residence time 9.75-29.3 s). The effect of nutrient liquid recycling rate on biotrickling filter performance is also evaluated. The result shows that the maximum elimination capacity is 152.1 g/(m3*h) at the inlet toluene concentration of 1 223 mg/m3 and the superficial gas velocity of 205 m/h(corresponding to a residence time of 17.6 s). The average toluene removal efficiency reaches 80% in the experiments period, and high water content has a negative effect on biotrickling filter performance. The microscope observation of the micro-organism in the biofilm shows that the Pseudomonas is the dominant group of the mixing microbial culture in the biofilm.