• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.188-193
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• 2006

A new type of biofilter, a rotating drum biotrickling filter(RDBF), was developed and operated for the removal of styrene from industrial waste gas. The porous polyurethane foam sheet was used as a packing materials for the RDBF and a pure culture of Gram-positive bacterium Brevibacillus sp. SP1 was used as an inoculum. The reactor showed a short start-up period of 18 days, during which uniform biofilms were developed on the packing. During a steady operation at an incoming styrene concentration of $200ppm_v$ and a retention time of 0.5 min, a high and stable removal of styrene over 95% was observed. The maximum elimination capacity was estimated to be $125g/m^3{\cdot}hr$. The outstanding performance was attributed to an efficient gas-liquid mass transfer and the appropriate supply of nutrient solution to the biofilm microorganisms on the packing by the rotation of the drum.