A Study on the Removal Efficiency of VOCs and Operating Characteristics by Using of Bioscrubber Trickling Filter(BSTE)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and odor materials are major sources of air pollution in Ulsan city, where much chemical plants are located. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new reactor which can remove VOCs and odor materials effectively and be equipped at the end of pipe easily. A modified reactor (bioscrubber trickling filter, BSTF), which have both characteristics of biofilter and bioscrubber, was developed and tested on its reactivity with several VOCs using two types of media, fiber and activated carbon 4- ceramic(A/C). It was observed that the removal efficiencies of several types of VOCs such as acetaldehyde, ethylalcohol, butanol, diethylamine and triethylamine were up to $95\%$ when they had about 100 ppm of initial concentration and 80 seconds of residence time. Good attachment of microorganisms to both media, where it is thought the reaction efficiency can be determined according to the amount of microorganisms attachment, observed with scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Initial pressure drops of the packed bed with both media were 229 $mmH_2O/m$ at A/C column and 670 $mmH_2O/m$, respectively. However, maximum pressure drop of fiber column during the operation was over 1,647 $mmH_2O/m$. Therefore, it was thought that the fiber material would not suitable to use in the local plant as a packed bed media.

Bioscrubber Trickling Filter(BSTF)의 VOCs 제거 및 운전 특성에 관한 연구