• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.127-135
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• 2013

In this study, both pressure drop and microbe-population-distribution were observed while running a novel biofilter system with improved design in which the biofilter system is composed of two, upper and lower biofilters with both equal feed-rates of up-flow and down-flow, respectively. Then they were compared with the pressure drop and microbe-population-distribution observed in a conventional biofilter of the same effective volume with unidirectional flow. The pressure drop-value of biofilter system with improved design turned out to be less at the incipient stage of run or steady-state long term operation by more than 40~80% of that of the conventional biofilter. The microbe-population-distribution was observed to be lower and higher at higher and lower column of biofilter, respectively, for both the conventional biofilter and the biofilter system with improved design. The microbe-media of waste-tire crumb showed much greater CFU counts than GAC. In the biofilter system with improved design, the $bottom{\rightarrow}up$ feeding of waste air showed greater microbe-population growth than the $top{\rightarrow}down$ feeding for both the microbe-media of waste-tire crumb and GAC. However, it was more prominent for the former than the latter. Comparing the microbe-population-distributions of both of the conventional biofilter and the biofilter system with improved design, the microbe-population of latter was distributed ca. 15 and 2.5 times more evenly for GAC and the media of waste-tire crumb, respectively, than that of former.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.136-143
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• 2013

In this study, both transient behaviors of a biofilter system with improved design and a conventional biofilter were observed to perform the treatment of waste air containing malodor and volatile organic compound (VOC). Their behaviors of removal efficiency and treated concentration of malodor and VOC were compared each other. During 1st~7th stages of improved biofilter system operation it was observed that the order of treated ethanol concentration at each sampling port was switched due to the difference of microbe-population-distribution in spite of the difference of biofilter effective height. However, at 8th stage of its operation, the order of treated ethanol concentration at each sampling port was consistent to the order of biofilter effective height at each sampling port. The same was applied to the case of hydrogen sulfide, even though the difference of switched treated-hydrogen sulfide-concentrations was less than that of switched treated-ethanol-concentrations. The ethanol-removal efficiency of the biofilter system with improved design was ca. 96%, which was greater by 2% than that of the conventional biofilter. The transient behavior of treated hydrogen sulfide concentration of both biofilters were similar to each other. However, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide treated by the biofilter system with improved design was observed lower than that by the conventional biofilter. The hydrogen sulfide-removal efficiency of the biofilter system with improved design was higher by ca. 2% than that of the conventional biofilter. Therefore, the hydrogen sulfide-removal efficiency of the biofilter system with improved design was observed to be enhanced by the same as its ethanol-removal efficiency.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.603-608
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• 2001

In this study, we studied on the remeval of toluene vapors in a lab-scale biofilter. Biofiltration was performed in a column fed downflow with contaminated air at ambient conditions. The column was packed with mixture of Peat and Calstene(5:3 vol. Ratio), Synthesized media, Bark and Wood chip, which were inoculated with microbial population of selected stains(Pseudomonas. putida, KCCM 11343, ATCC 12633). The microorganisms were immobilized on the bed medium and then biofilm were formed. The biofilter was operated under the conditions of various inlet toluene concentrations for 180 days and treated up to the elimination capacity of maximum 40 g/㎥hr at the inlet load of 30 g/㎥ hr with percentage removals of 20∼90% and gas retention times between 1 and 2 min. The pressure drop was very negligible through the biofilter columps because its value of 0.054 cmH$_2$O/m was much less than others. The effect of operating conditions such as flow rate, inlet toluene concentration and moisture contents on the performance of the biofilter was sequentially investigated in this study.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2004

Two biofilter tests were conducted under different operating conditions. Test # 1 was performed to treat VOCs generated from a paint booth. The second test was performed to treat VOCs generated from chemical manufacturing processes. The volume of biofilter media was 4.3 $m^3$. For the test # 1, the biofilter was operated for 30 days with 99.9% reduction ratio. Range of temperature of each stage of the biofilter media was measured between $34^{\circ}C$ and $73^{\circ}C$. All the temperatures of stages reduced gradually after the initial dramatic increase. For the test # 2, the biofilter experiment was conducted for 14 days. In this case, the biofilter was installed outdoor and the experiment was performed during wintertime. Therefore, temperature management for the biofilter was needed. Seven-centimeter thick fiberglass insulation and $150^{\circ}C$ steam heating were used to overcome the outside freezing cold weather during test # 2. Temperature of stage # 5 was measured the highest and that of stage # 1 was the lowest. More acclimation time and test period was needed to determine the maximum loading rate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2002.02a
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• pp.383-388
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• 2002

본 연구에서 구성한 바이오필터 시스템은 암모니아 가스를 대상으로 여러 조건에서 성능을 구명하였으며, 필터 설계시 중요 인자인 송풍량, 온도, 함수율, 압력강하, 체류시간들간의 관계를 구명하였다. 필터 내부의 온도 변화는 체류시간 및 압력손실에 거의 영향을 주지 않았으며, 함수율의 변화가 체류시간과 압력손실에 미치는 영향은 함수율 값이 증가할수록 체류시간은 감소했으며 반대로 압력손실은 증가하는 결과를 보였다. 이는 필터 내부의 공극률 변화로 생긴 결과라 판단된다. 송풍량은 바이오필터 효율에 절대적으로 영향을 미치며 송풍량이 증가할수록 체류시간은 감소하며 초기 제거율도 떨어진다. 미생물의 투입 여부에 따른 제거율은 미생물 접종을 하지 않은 경우 초기 흡착에 의한 영향으로 제거율이 높다가 시간이 지남에 따라 차츰 낮아져 90% 이하로 떨어지는 경향을 보였고, 균주를 접종한 경우에 있어서는 시운전 기간 동안 거의 100% 가까운 제거 성능을 보였다. 본 연구는 실험실에서 암모니아 가스만을 대상을 하여 실험하였다. 따라서 실제 축사에서 발생하는 다양한 성분의 악취와 농도에 대한 성능 검증과 개선에 대한 연구가 보다 장기간에 걸쳐 이루어져야 할 것이다. 또한 소요되는 에너지와 운전비용의 절감 등의 유지관리, 바이오필터와 타 방식과의 조합, 그리고 다양한 전처리 방식의 개발 등 여러 측면에서 바이오필터 성능 개선에 대한 연구가 병행되어야 할 것으로 판단된다.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.448-454
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• 2003

We studied on the removal of toluene vapors in a lab-scale biofilter. There are three biofilters packed with reticulated polyurethane foams of different porosities of 15, 25, 45 PPI (Pore Per Inch) as media. A toluene-degrading strain (Pseudomonas Putida KCCM 11348, ATCC 12633) was naturally immobilized on the filter media by circulating the culture media. Three biofilters were operated under different sets of continuous experiments, varying both the design and operation parameters such as the inlet toluene concentration and the flow rate. Maximum elimination capacity of 115.5g/㎥hr of biofilter packed with foams of 25 PPI was obtained for toluene degradation. The effect of operating conditions such as flow rate, inlet toluene concentration and porosity on the performance of the biofilter was investigated.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.3 s.54
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• pp.219-228
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• 2006

폴리우레탄, 폴리에스테르, 바이페놀, PVC 외 각종 농약 등을 생산하는 울산의 모 화학공장에서, 다양한 종류의 휘발성유기화합물질들(VOCs)이 배출되고 있다. 평균적인 휘발성유기화합물질의 배출 농도는 7283 ppm으로, 톨루엔, 페놀을 포함하여 Trimethyl-pentene, trimethyl-hexene, dimethyl-cyclohexane 등이 검출되었다. Trimethyl-pentene, trimethyl-hexene, dimethyl-cyclohexane등은 인화성이 강하며 화재를 일으킬 위험성이 매우 큰 것으로 알려져 있고, 특히 톨루엔과 페놀의 경우는 호흡이나 피부접촉 등을 통한 인체로의 유입이 있을 경우 유독성을 나타내게 된다. 이러한 VOCs제거를 위하여 겨울철 기간에 파이로트-규모의 바이오필터 적용 실험이 진행되어 졌다. 본 연구의 목적은 바이오필터 운영이 진행되는 가운데 온도, 함수비, 하중, 압력손실 등의 제한요소들이 미디어 내부에서 변화하는 상황에 대한 관찰 및 평가에 있다. 이러한 제한요소들은 바이오필터의 디자인과 오염물질 제거에 심대한 영향을 미치게 된다. 바이오필터는 옥외에 설치되어 총 44일간 운영되어 졌는데, 외부 영하온도의 영향을 최소화하기 위하여, 7cm두께의 파이버-글래스 소재 단열설비가 반응기 외부에 설치되었고 또한 $150^{\circ}C$의 스팀이 바이오필터 반응기와 단열설비 사이에 제공되어 졌다. 바이오필터 반응기 내부에는 23개의 온도 측정 센서와 함수비 센서, 공기샘플포트, 습도계 등이 각기 다른 장소에 설치되어 온도, 함수비 등의 제한요소 영향연구가 진행되었다. 미디어 내부 같은 높이의 서로 반대되는 위치에서 온도차가 13.7도에서 -8.3도까지 차이가 나는 것으로 관찰되었으며, 미디어 높이 위치의 변화에 따라서도 21도에서 2도가지 차이를 나타냈다. 바이오필터 함수비는 실험기간 동안 지속적으로 변화가 발생하였는데, 스팀이 제공되는 동안에는 미디어 함수비가 훨씬 빠른 속도로 증가됨이 관찰되어 졌다.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.751-762
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• 2015

This study was performed to investigate the stability of soil moisture in controlling air ventilation rate within a horizontal biofilter, and to compare removal efficiency (RE) of indoor air pollutants including fine dust, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and formaldehyde (HCHO), depending on whether dieffenbachias (Diffenbachia amoena) were planted in the biofilter. The relative humidity, air temperature, and soil moisture contents showed stable values, regardless of the presence of D. amoena, and the plants grew normally in the biofilter. REs for number of fine dust particles (PM10 and PM2.5) within the biofilter filled with only soil were at least 30% and 2%, respectively. REs for number of fine dust particles (PM10 and PM2.5) within the biofilter including the plants were above 40% and 4%, respectively. RE for fine dust (PM10) weight was above 4% and 20%, respectively, in the biofilter containing only soil or soil together with plants. In the case of the biofilter filled with only soil, REs for xylene, ethylbenzene, toluene or total VOC (T-VOC) were each more than 63%; however, REs for benzene and formaldehyde (HCHO) were above 22% and 38%, respectively. In the biofilter with the plants, REs for xylene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and T-VOC were each above 72%, and REs for benzene and HCHO were above 39%. Thus, RE of the biofilter integrated with plants was found to be higher for volatile organic compounds than for fine dust. Hence, the biofilter was very effective for indoor air quality improvement and the effect was higher when integrated with plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.546-555
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• 2014

The final aim of this study is to develop a biofiltration system integrated with plant vegetation for improving indoor air quality effectively depending on indoor space and characteristics. However, to approach this final goal, several requirements such as constant pressure drops (PDs) and soil moisture contents (SMCs), which influence the capacity design for a proper ventilation rate of biofiltration system, should be satisfied. Thus, this fundamental experiment was carried out to adjust a proper wind speed and to ensure a stabilization of initial SMCs within biofilter for uniform distribution of SMCs and PDs, and for normal plant growth, especially avoiding root stress by wind. Therefore, we designed horizontal biofliter models and manufactured them, and then calculated the ventilation rate, air residence time, and air-liquid ration based on the biofilter depending on three levels of wind speed (1, 2, and $3cm{\cdot}s^{-1}$). The relative humidity (RH) and PD of the humidified air coming out through the soil within the biofilter, and SMC of the soil and plant growth parameters of lettuce and duffy fern grown within biofilter were measured depending on the three levels of wind speed. As a result of wind speed test, $3{\cdot}sec^{-1}$ was suitable to keep up a proper RH, SMC, and plant growth. Thus, the next experiment was set up to be two levels of initial SMCs (low and high initial SMC, 18.5 and 28.7%) within each biofilter operated and a non-biofiltered control (initial SMC, 29.7%) on the same wind speed ($3cm{\cdot}sec^{-1}$), and measured on the RH and PD of the air coming out through the soil within the biofilter, and SMC of the soil and plant growth parameters of Humata tyermani grown within biofilter. This result was similar to the first results on RHs, SMCs, and PDs keeping up with constant levels, and three SMCs did not show any significant difference on plant growth parameters. However, two biofiltered SMCs enhanced dry weights of the plants slightly than non-biofiltered SMC. Thus, the stability of this biofiler system keeping up major physical factors (SMC and PD) deserved to be adopted for designing an advanced integrated biofilter model in the near future.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.568-574
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• 2013

A semi-pilot biofilter packed with media with immobilized Thiobacillus sp. IW and return sludge, was operated under various operating conditions in order to treat malodorous waste air containing both hydrogen sulfide and ammonia which are major air pollutants emitted from composting factories and many publicly owned treatment works (POTW). At the incipient and middle stages of a semi-pilot biofilter operation, the hydrogen sulfide-removal efficiency behaves regardless of an inlet-load of ammonia. However, the ammonia-removal efficiency decreased as an inlet-load of hydrogen sulfide increased. Nevertheless, at the final stage of the semi-pilot biofilter operation, the ammonia-removal efficiency was not affected by the increase of hydrogen sulfide-inlet load. It is attributed to that a serious acidification of semi-pilot biofilter-media did not occur due to continuous injection of buffer solution at the final stage of the semi-pilot biofilter operation. When both hydrogen sulfide and ammonia contained in malodorous waste air were treated simultaneously by semi-pilot biofilter, the maximum elimination capacities of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia turned out to be ca. 58 and $30g/m^3/h$, respectively. These maximum elimination capacities were estimated to be ca. 39 and 46% less than those for lab-scaled biofilter-separate elimination of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, respectively. Thus, for the simultaneous biofilter-treatment of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, the maximum elimination capacity of ammonia decreased by 7% more than that of hydrogen sulfide.