BIO-OXIDATION - A TECHNOLOGY FOR

SUSTAINABLE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL

Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals,
particulate matter, or biological materials that
cause harm or discomfort to humans or other
living organisms, or damages the natural environment
into the atmosphere
 Air pollutants

• Silica, silicon dioxide

• Metal oxides
• Inorganic salts
• Heavy metals
(mercury, chromium)
• Ammonium salt particles
• Condensable hydrocarbons
• Byproducts of combustion
• Soluble VOC formaldehyde
• Acid gases such as HCl,
HF, H2SO4, HNO3
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
• Chlorine gas (Cl2)
• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
• Ammonia
What is bio-oxidation ?

Bio-oxidation is a biological air pollution

control technology that utilizes bacteria
& fungi to biologically absorb and digest
vapor phase VOCs and odorous
compounds commonly found in
industrial and municipal applications.
 Techniques

• Bio-filtration
• bio scrubber
• Bioremediation
 Bio-filtration

• Use moist solid media

• Driving force is solubility in water and biodegradability
• High treatment performance is associated with low molecular
weight and high water solubility

Filter media is for providing:-

• large surface area
• Energy source and nutrients to the microorganism.
• Stable structural matrix to allow the gas stream to pass through
• Utilization of Natural Materials and
Microorganisms Growing in a Media
Bed to Destroy Organic Compounds
and Remove Air Toxics from an Air
Stream
• Addition of Biomass Support Media
(Wood or other packing) improves
bio-filter performance through
reduced pressure drop and improved
air flow and contaminant
distribution
 Bio filter Advantages:
• Very moderate initial capital costs
• Low operating costs
• Large energy savings over RTO
technology
• Generates non-hazardous by-products
• Treatment to handle wide range of
VOCs
• Consortium of microorganisms, once
well developed can handle moderate
fluctuations in input gas content
 Bio-filter Disadvantages

• Large land requirement for traditional design.

• No continuous internal liquid flow in which to
adjust bed pH or to add nutrients.
• Traditional design does not have a covered top
• Bed replacement can take 2 to 6 weeks,
depending on bed size.
 BIOTRICKLING FILTER

• similar to a biofilter.
• pollutants are also transferred from the
gas phase to a biofilm that grows on a
packing material.
• packing materials are made of chemically
inert materials, such as plastic rings.
• nutrients are not available in these
materials.
 Bio scrubber

• consists of two reactors:-

• The first part is an absorption tower, where pollutants are
absorbed by a liquid phase.
• second reactor, which is a kind of activated sludge unit,
where microorganisms growing in suspended flocks in the
water degrade the pollutants.
• The effluent of this unit is re-circulated
Bioscrubber Advantages:
• save the cost of installing a humidification process.
•smaller footprint than other bioreactors
• Because pH control and nutrient feed can be
automated, it requires less attention than other
bioreactors.
• Process is ideal for emissions that produce acids
upon treatment.
• Bioscrubber can treat emissions containing
particulate matter.
Bioscrubber Disadvantages:
• more expensive
• Over feeding can cause excessive biomass growth, which
can plug the bioscrubber.
• Operating cost can be higher
• Needs expensive and complex feeding and neutralizing
systems.
• To control biomass growth, toxic and dangerous
compounds must be inventoried and handled.
 bioremediation

Bioremediation can be defined as any process

that uses microorganisms to return the natural
environment altered by contaminants to its original
condition. Bioremediation may be employed to
attack specific contaminants, such as degradation
of chlorine hydrocarbon by bacteria.
 Effectiveness of bioreactor .

• Moisture
• Temperature
• pH
 Challenges for Biological Systems

• Large Footprint
• Media heterogeneity and compaction
• Unsteady inputs of VOCs
• Regulatory uncertainty for proof of
reliability
• Operator training