Dynamic Behavior of Compost Biofilters During Periods of Starvation and Fluctuating Hydrogen Sulfide Loadings

Abstract

To understand transient-state performance of biofilters and the phenomena occurring during changes and interruptions in their operating conditions, dynamic behavior of biofilters exposed to shock loadings of contaminant (H₂S) and periods of starvation has been investigated. The initial startup and the response of the biofilters to step changes in the H₂S concentration and air-loading rate were also presented and discussed. Biofilters responded very effectively to H₂S concentration spikes at H₂S mass loading rates of 19.8–48.0 g/m³h by rapidly recovering their original removal rates within 1.2–20.2 min. The recovery time after each spike showed a positive correlation to the total amount of H₂S loadings during the spike. Biofilters showed capabilities of withstanding 11–28 days of starvations and recovered their full performances after the starvations without any evident lag period.

Keywords:

• Biodegradation
• Biofiltration
• Hydrogen sulfide
• Odor control
• Starvation

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by a grant from the Kyonggi Regional Environmental Technology Center of Korea.