Removal of EATX from Waste Gases by a Trickle-Bed Air Biofilter

The trickle-bed air biofilter performance for treating mixtures of ethylacetate (EA), toluene (T), and xylene (X) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was evaluated under different influent VOC loadings. The EA removal efficiencies were significantly higher than those for T and X, indicating that EA is a preferred substrate in the EATX waste gas. More than 80% removal efficiencies could be achieved under influent loadings below 77 g EA/m3/h, 8 g T/m3/h, and 10 g X/m3/h. The trickle-bed air biofilter appears efficient for controlling EATX emission with medium EA loadings and low TX loadings. The elimination capacities of EA, T, and X for a pure VOC feed were higher than for a mixed VOC feed and the differences increased with increased influent VOC loading.