Biofiltration of Toluene Using Bio-hybrid-Filter–Mass Transfer Studies

Biofiltration has acquired widespread recognition as a cost-effective and dependable method of removing biodegradable volatile organic pollutants from the air Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs). Biofiltration of toluene was investigated in this study in continuous mode under diverse flow and concentration conditions in a hybrid biofilter equipped with membrane. The Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane is used in the bio reactor which employed the mixed packing media containing pearl millet-poly urethane foam in up flow operation mode. An overall removal efficiency of 99.1% was attained for the average toluene influent concentration of 0.2gm⁻³. A maximum elimination capacity of 120 gm⁻³ h⁻¹ was achieved in the coupled membrane and millets-stalk based biofiltration reactor which is the high when compared to bio filtration alone. The carbon dioxide (CO₂) production rate and microorganisms dispersion were monitored during the entire toluene removal. The mass transfer rate is also studied for toluene removal in the biofiler.