M.TECH.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
SEMINAR -II 1

BIRLA GUJARAT
VISHVAKARMA TECHNOLOGICAL
MAHAVIDHYALAYA UNIVERSITY

Bio-Filtration for Air Pollution

Control
PREPARED BY: GUIDED BY:
KAUSHAL PATEL MRS. RESHMA L. PATEL
M.TECH. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
ENGINEERING CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
ID NO: 15EN815 BVM ENGINEERING COLLEGE
V.V.NAGAR
ENROLMENT NO: 150080717011
B.V.M ENGINEERING COLLEGE
V. V. NAGAR
Content 2

 What is Bio-filtration
 Why Bio-filtration is important
 Types of Bio-filters
 Mechanism of Bio-filtration
 Component of Bio-filtration unit
 Parameters that to be maintained
 Differentiation between bio-filtration, thermal process and chemical
oxidation
 Benefits, Drawback and Requirement
 References
What is Bio-filtration 3

 Bio filtration is air pollution control technique .

 Involves bio degradation of contaminants under the action of
microorganisms diffused in a thin layer of moisture known as “BIOFILM”.
 Mainly used for elimination of malodorous gas emissions and low
concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

The process of Bio Degradation is :

Organic Pollutant + O2 CO2 + H2O + Heat + Biomass
Why Bio-filtration is important 4

 Bio-reaction is a green process

 Thermal and catalytic control units consume large volumes of expensive
fuel.
 Bioreactors only use small amounts of electrical power to drive two or
three small motors.
 Normally, bioreactors do not require full-time labor and the only operating
supplies needed are small quantities of macronutrients.
Brief timeline of development of bio-filters 5

• Biological methods were proposed to treat odorous emissions.

1923

• Biological methods were applied to treat odorous emissions in low concentrations in

1955 Germany.

• Bio filtration was used for the treatment of gaseous pollutants both in Germany and US.
1960’s

• Biofiltration is used with high success in Germany.

1970’s

• Biofiltration is used for the treatment of toxic emissions and volatile organic compounds
1980’s (VOCs) from industry.

• Today, there are more than 500 bio filters operating both in Germany and Netherlands
1990’s and it is widely spreaded in US.
Types of bio-filters
 ON THE BASIS OF LAYOUT
6
 Open Bed : Uncovered and Exposed to all Weather conditions.
 Closed Bed : Enclosed with a small exhaust port for venting of cleaned air
 ON THE BASIS OF SHAPE
 Horizontal :
With Larger footprints
Relatively inexpensive
Easy maintenance
 Vertical :
Designed to reduce the footprint required.
Use less surface area compared to Horizontal
Expensive
Not easy to Maintain
 ON THE BASIS OF SUPPORT MEDIA
 Compost Bio Filter : Soil , Peat, Compost material is used
 Synthetic Bio Filter : Ceramic , Plastic ( BTX )*
 7

Open-bed
Vertical bio-filter bio-filter
Mechanism of bio-filtration 8

 Movement of the contaminants from the air to the water phase occurs.
 The contaminants in the gas are either adsorbed onto the solid particles of
the media or absorbed into the water layer that exists on the media
particles.
 Concentration of contaminants decreases from inlet to outlet as they
partitioned between various phases.
 Wastes partition out between soil and gas, so that the VOC remain in soil
longer than in air.
Process diagram of a bio-filter 9
Mechanism cont. 10

 Diffusion occurs through the water layer to the microorganisms in the slime
layer on the surface of the media particles.
 Through biotransformation of the food source, end products are formed,
including carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen, mineral salts, and energy.
 Biotransformation act along with adsorption, absorption, and diffusion to
remove contaminants from the gaseous stream.
Mechanism cont. 11

 The media of the filter functions both to supply inorganic nutrients and as a
supplement to the gas stream being treated for organic nutrients.
 The sorbed gases are oxidized by the microorganisms to CO2.
 The volatile inorganics are also sorbed and oxidized to form calcium salts.
 Half-lives of contaminants range from minutes to months.
 The oxidation of organic matter generates heat.
Component of a bio-filter unit 12
 MATERIALS used for bed media - peat, composted yard waste, bark,
coarse soil, gravel or plastic shapes.
o Oyster shells (for neutralizing acid build-up) and fertilizer (for
macronutrients) are mixed with bed media.
 SUPPORT RACK -perforated - allow air from the plenum to move into the
bed media -to contact microbes that live in the bed.
o Perforations also permit excess, condensed moisture to drain out of the
bed to the plenum.
 FAN - used to collect contaminated air
o As the emissions flow through the bed media, the pollutants are absorbed
by moisture on the bed media.
o Microbes reduce pollutant concentrations by consuming and metabolizing
pollutants. During the digestion process, enzymes in convert compounds
into energy, CO2 and water.
o Material that is indigestible is left over and becomes residue.
Schematic diagram of a bio-filter unit 13
Bio-filtration media 14

 The media used in bio-filters can

include peat, bark, composted
sewage sludge, granular carbon or other
suitable materials
 The useful life of media is typically 5 years.
Micro-organisms 15

 Fungi, Bacteria, and Actinomycetes.

 Start up of a bio-filter process requires some acclimation time for the
microorganisms to grow specific to the compounds in the gaseous stream
 For easily degradable substances, this acclimation period is typically
around 10 days
 The biomass has been shown to be able to be viable for shut downs of
approximately 2 weeks.
 If inorganic nutrient and oxygen supplies are continued, the biomass may
be maintained for up to 2 months.
Parameters that need to be maintained
16

 Moisture Content – Microorganisms need a moist environment. Media

has a tendency to dry out because of the air flow. Optimum 20 -60%.
 Temperature – Microorganisms operate best between 30 °C and 40°C.
 Oxygen Level -Most of degradations are aerobic. Oxygen is not used
directly in the gas form but the microorganisms use the oxygen present in
dissolved form in the media.
 pH –For better results must maintain a pH where the microorganism are
the most efficient.
 Nutrient Supply: For aerobic microorganisms, the O:N:P ratio is estimated
as 100:5:1.These are typically nitrogen, phosphorous, and some trace
metals.
Bio-filter effectiveness 17

 Odor and hydrogen sulfide reductions up to 95%.

 Ammonia reductions up to 80%.
 Uses Microorganisms
 Absorbs And Oxidizes
 VOC’s
 VIC’s
 Ox disable Inorganic Gases and Vapors
 Produces
 Water, Carbon di oxide, Salts
 Microbial Biomass
 Differentiation between
18

Bio-filtration Thermal Process Chemical Oxidation

-Only By-product is -By-Product is nitrogen oxides -Produce chlorine and

waste biomass. which causes ozone depletion chlorinated products.
and smog formation.

-Ambient Temperature and -requires additional natural gas -require precise temperature
pressure process. for achieving high tempt hence and pressure conditions.
increases CO2.

-investment and operation -operation and handling cost is

-In chemical oxidations
cost are lower than other high. chemicals have to stored and
two. handled.
Benefits 19

 „Benefits:
1. Low Operating Cost
2. Does not require chemicals
3. Effective removal of compounds
Drawbacks 20

1. Break-through can occur if air flow or concentration is not consistent

2. Large area required to treat contaminated source
3. Requires large acclimation time for microbial population.
Requirement 21

1. Requires continuous air flow

2. Requires consistent loading
3. Requires a humid and warm air stream
 Bio-filters 22

A visible option

 Effective at emission reduction.

 Low-cost
 Biological system requiring management.
 Design, installation and operation will impact building ventilation and bio-
filters effectiveness.
References 23
 Review Paper on Bio filtration of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – An Overview by
Thakur Prabhat Kumar, Rahul, Mathur Anil Kumar and Balomajumder Research Journal
of Chemical Sciences ISSN 2231-606X Vol. 1(8), 83-92, Nov. (2011);
ref. 4
 Magazine paper on Biofiltration: an innovative technology by Dr. Rakesh Govind,
chemical engg., University Of Cincinnati, OH 45221-0171 (2000)

ref. 2, ref. 3
 Journal on Environmental Progress vol. 24 no.23 (october 2005) by American Society of
Chemical Engineers Project No. 98-CTS-4 Bureau of Sanitation, LA
ref. 6, ref.7
 Indian Journal Of Biotechnology vol. 2, july 2003, Biofiltration-an emerging technology
by Soccol, Woicieschowski, Vedanberghe, Soares and Neto UFPR, Federal university of
Parana, Curtiba-PR, Brazil CEP 81531-970
ref.5
 Pollution statistics from Indian Journal Of Biotechnology vol. 2, july 2003 case study of
effluent in Industries of Delhi-NCR region. ref.1
 Frederickson, J.; Boardman, C. P.; Gladding, T. L.; Simpson, A. E.; Howell, G. and Sgouridis,
F. (2013). Evidence: Bio filter performance and operation as related to commercial
composting. Environment Agency, Bristol.
 EPA handout Environmental Protection Agency “What is Bio filter?”; “Using bio-filters to
 Head, I. M., Singleton, I., and Milner, M. (2003). Bioremediation: A critical review horizon 24
scientific press Norfolk.
 Devinny, J. S. ;Deshusses, M. A.,& Webster, T. S.Biofiltration for air pollution control. Lewis
publishers London.
 Sincero, A. P. and Sincero, G. A. Environmental engineering.:PHI learning Private Limited. N.
Delhi.
 Evans, G. M. and Furlong, J. C. Environmental Biotechnology.: Wiley & Sons.
 Liu, D. H. F. and Liptak, B. G. Environmental engineers handbook. (2nd ed.).
 Nathonson, J.A. Basic Environmental Technology.4th Ed.
 Brown, C. A. ,Karl, B. Air pollution control technology handbook.
 http://www.mega.cz/electrodialysis.html.
 www.globalspec.com/../air bio filter
 www.gnest.org/journal/vol 11_no2/218.
 www.ambio.ca/operation.php
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