Removal of Hydrogen Sulfide, Ammonia, and Benzene by Fluidized Bed Reactor and Biofilter

In this study, hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$), ammonia ($NH_3$), and benzene, which represent the major odor from a natural leather process plant, were removed using a fluidized bed bioreactor and biofilter including Thiobacillus sp. IW and a MY microbial consortium. The critical removal rate was $12g m^{-3}h^{-1}\;for\;H_2S,\;11g m^{-3}h^{-1}\;for\;NH_3\;and\;28 g m^{-3}h^{-1}$ for benzene by the fluidized bed bioreactor, and $8.5g m^{-3}h^{-1}\;for\;H_2S\;7g m^{-3}h^{-1}\;for\;NH_3,\;and\;25 g m^{-3}h^{-1}$ for benzene in the biofilter. The average removal efficiency of $H_2S$, $NH_3$, and benzene by continuous operation for over 30 days with the fluidized bed bioreactor was $95{\pm}3\%,\;99{\pm}1\%,\;and\;98{\pm}5\%$, respectively, whereas that with the biofilter was $96{\pm}4\%,\;95{\pm}4\%,\;and\;97{\pm}3\%$, respectively. Therefore, the critical removal rate of $H_2S$, $NH_3$, and benzene was higher in the fluidized bed bioreactor, whereas the removal efficiency on the continuous operation was similar in both bioreactors.