Construction of a Biofilter Immobilized with Rhodococcus sp. B261 for Removal of H2S Gas Generated by Livestock

To explore the optimal conditions for the removal of $H_{2}S$ gas by biofiltration, various conditions, including inlet $H_{2}S$ concentration, flow rate, moisture, and cell number, were examined. Heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from the compost of the animal excreta. A strain that effectively removed $H_{2}S$ was selected and identified as Rhodococcus rhodochrous B261 by analysis of its 16S rDNA sequence. A cell number of $10^{7}\;cfu/g^{-}compost$ was sufficient to dominate the microbiota, and an effective removal was observed at $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations below 220 mg/L. The moisture content of 33-38% was suitable for activation of the microbial activity and delaying the desiccation. Higher flow rates resulted in lower removal rates of the $H_{2}S$ gas. Under the conditions of $10^7\;cfu/g^{-}compost$, $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations of 220 mg/L, and moisture content of 33-38%, the inlet $H_{2}S$ gas concentrations of 120 and 400 mg/L were completely removed for 34 and 12 days, respectively. The amount of sulfur removed was $2.99{\times}10^{-9}H_{2}S-S/cell$, which was suggested as the amount of sulfur removed by a single cell. The biofilter consisting of the compost and R. rhodochrous B261 could be suitable for a long-term biofilteration for the removal of $H_{2}S$ and other malodorous compounds.