FEASIBILITY OF FLUIDIZED-BED BIOREACTOR FOR REMEDIATING WASTE GAS CONTAINING H₂S OR NH₃

Abstract

Pseudomonas putida for H₂S and Arthrobacter oxydans for NH₃ were immobilized with Ca-alginate and packed inside glass columns to form fluidized-bed bioreactors. The feasibility of the lab-scale bioreactor for the treatment of H₂S or NH₃ was examined. Phosphate salt, being added to the nutrient solution as buffer solution, may chelate with Ca²⁺ in the Ca-alginate beads, resulting in the disintegration of gel structure. When the buffer capacity of the phosphate solution was over the critical point of 33.5 mM/pH, all calcium ions in the bead were released and beads were broken. Increasing liquid flowrate and inlet gas concentration favored to H₂S and NH₃ removal. Carbon source addition was essential and facilitated malodorous removal for this system. Removal capacity increased with inlet concentration. However, increasing pattern was dependent of H₂S or NH₃. The result clearly indicated that bioreactor was suitable to be applied for the industry of livestock farm for removing wastegas containing H₂S or NH₃.

Keywords:

• Hydrogen sulfide
• Ammonia
• Immobilized cell
• Bioreactor

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work is supported by National Science Council, Republic of China.