Detailed Study on Biofiltration in

Controlling Air Pollution

Presented By: Under the guidance of

Abhishek Hosamani Prof. Prashant S P
(2JH21CV400)

Jain College of engineering and Technology

Hubballi
What is Air Pollution ?
Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological
molecules, or other harmful materials into Earth's atmosphere,
causing diseases, death to humans, and damage to other living
organisms such as animals and food crops, or the natural or built
environment. Air pollution may come from anthropogenic or
natural sources.

Types of Air Pollution

Generally there are two types of Air pollution
1. Ozone pollution
2. Particle pollution
What is Biofiltration ?

 Biofiltration is a relatively new pollution control technology. It is an attractive

technique for the elimination of malodorous gas emissions and of low
concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
 The Most common type of biofiltration is just like a big box.
 Some can be as big as a basket ball court or as small as one cubic meter.
Why Biofiltration is Important ?

 Bioreaction 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.
 History of Biofilters
The following is a brief timeline of the development of biofilters:

 1923 -- Biological methods were proposed to treat odorous emissions.

 1955 -- Biological methods were applied to treat odorous emissions in
low concentrations in Germany.
 1960’s -- Biofiltration was used for the treatment of gaseous pollutants
both in Germany and US.
 1970’s -- Biofiltration is used with high success in Germany.
 1980’s -- Biofiltration is used for the treatment of toxic emissions and
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industry.
 1990’s -- Today, there are more than 500 biofilters operating both in
Germany and Netherlands and it is widely spreading in US.
 Components Of A Biofilter Unit

 Materials used for bed media - peat,

composted yard waste, bark, coarse soil,
gravel or plastic shapes
 Support Rack -perforated - allow air from
the plenum to move into the bed media -to
contact microbes that live in the bed.
 Fan - used to collect contaminated air
 Humidifier: contaminated air is moistened by
a humidifier and is pumped into the biofilter
Schematic Diagram Of A Biofilter Unit
Differentiation Between Bio Filtration , Chemical oxidation
& Thermal Processes

Biofiltration Thermal Process Chemical Oxidation

By-product is nitrogen oxide

Only By-product is waste
biomass
Ambient temperature and
pressure process
which causes ozone Produce chlorine and
depletion and smog chlorinated products.
formation
Requires additional natural
Requires precise
gas for achieving high
temperature and pressure
temperature hence increases
conditions
co2.

Investment and operation Operation cost handling cost In this chemicals have to be
cost are lower than the two. is high. stored and handled.
 Types of Biofilters
ON THE BASIS OF LAYOUT
 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 :
1. With Larger footprints
2. Relatively inexpensive
3. Easy maintenance
 Vertical :
1. Designed to reduce the footprint required.
2. Use less surface area compared to Horizontal
3. Expensive
4. Not easy to Maintain
ON THE BASIS OF SUPPORT MEDIA
 Compost Bio Filter : Soil , Peat, Compost material is used
 Synthetic Bio Filter : Ceramic , Plastic .
 Compost type biofilter

Open-bed
Vertical biofilter biofilter
 Brief Mechanism
 A biofilter’s main function is to bring microorganisms into contact with pollutants contained in
an air stream.
 The biofilter contains a filter material, which is the breeding ground for the microorganisms.
 The microorganisms live in a thin layer of moisture, the "biofilm", which surrounds the
particles that make up the filter media.
 During the biofiltration process, the polluted air stream is slowly pumped through the biofilter
and the pollutants are absorbed into the filter media.
 The contaminated gas is diffused in the biofilter and adsorbed onto the biofilm.
 This gives microorganisms the opportunity to degrade the pollutants and to produce energy and
metabolic byproducts in the form of CO2 and H2O.
Reaction Involved is
Organic Pollutant + O2  CO2 + H2O + Heat + Biomass

Phenomena involved in the operation of biofilters

 Parameters that need to be maintained

 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.
Typical Biofilter Operating Conditions for Waste Air Treatment

Parameters Typical value

Biofilter layer height 1-1.5 m

Biofilter area 1-3000m2
Waste air flow 50-300,000m3h-1
Bed void volume 50%
Mean effective gas residence time 15-60 s
pressure drop per meter of bed height 0.2-1.0 cm water gauge (max. 10cm)
Inlet pollutant and/or odor concentration 0.01-5gm-3, 500-50,000OUm-3
Operating temperature 15-30 °C
Inlet air relative humidity >98%
Water content of the support material 60% by mass
pH of the support material pH 6-8
Typical removal efficiencies 60-100%
 Comparison of Biofiltration Technology
 Benefits:
1. Low Operating Cost
2. Does not require chemicals
3. Effective removal of compounds
 Drawbacks:
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.
 Requirements:
1. Requires continuous air flow
2. Requires consistent loading
3. Requires a humid and warm air stream
Maintenance:

 The operation and maintenance of the bio filtration system would require weekly
site visits during initiation of operations for emission. However, after acclimation
and all system problems are resolved the frequency of site visits could be reduced
to the biweekly or monthly.
 There are four areas of maintenance needed on biofilters — moisture content,
weed control, rodent control and assessing pressure drop. None of these
management issues takes significant amounts of time but all are important for
proper biofilter operation.
 Case Study
This case study of PPC Industry ,Texas which conducted Biofiltration as a VOC Control for Serigraph Inc. (a screen printer
and sheet fed offset printer located in West Bend, Wisconsin, about 30 miles northwest of Milwaukee , US).
 Flow rate was 45,000 CFM, VOC loading was 45tons/year, Temperature maintained was 70 – 90 0F

Thermal treatment
SL Thermal treatment
Particulars Biofilters without
No with concentrators
concentrators

1 Capital cost $ 1.4 million $ 1.8 million $ 0.9 millions

$10,955,999/ten
2 Operating cost $820,000/ten years $7,100,000/ten years
years
$0.65-$0.7 $1.05-$1.1
3 Natural gas Nil
million/year million/years
$42,500/year $35,000/year $20,500/year
4 Electricity
(2,000 kwh/day) (1,700 kwh/day) (1,000 kwh/day)
5 Water $12,500/year Nil Nil

6 Bed replacement $180,000/four years Nil Nil

7 Removal efficiency 85% >95% >95%

8 Cost/ton of VOC Removed over ten years $5,800 $20,000 $27,700

 A Few Existing Biofilters

 Long Sault, Ontario: Although a small (1500 cfm), indoor, container-type system, this installation
demonstrates several key aspects that are relevant to any installation.

 Sarnia, Ontario: This biofilter was installed in 2001 and treats 12,500 cfm of air coming from a sludge
liming and drying operation.

 Brookfield, P.E.I. : This biofilter was installed in 2002, at a composting plant in P.E.I., that treats 60,000
cfm of air from the composting process.

 Toronto, Ontario: This biofilter was installed in 2002 in the north end of Toronto at the Toronto Mixed
Waste Recycling and Organics Processing Facility.

 McMinnville, Oregon: The installation in McMinnville, Oregon perhaps best demonstrates the capabilities
as the levels of odorous compounds to be treated were among the highest ever reported from the wastewater
treatment environment.
CONCLUSION
 Biofiltration plays very important role in control of air pollution

 Biofilter, like all systems follows laws of conservation & mass balance

 Biofilter is successful only when microbial ecosystem is healthy & vigorous

 The design of biofilter system requires a detailed understanding of site ,

conditions , site limitations, system components & costs

 Monitoring of biofilter is very important and requires a skilled labours.

 References:

 B.Venu Gopal, A. Gangagni Rao, V. Sri Devi,Y.Koteswar Rao, B.Siva babu,” Biofilter For The Purification Of
Air Contaminated With Tryethylamine”,(2014).
 Delhomenie M C., “biofiltration of air: a review”,(2005)
 Dr. Rakesh Govind,” Biofiltration: An Innovative Technology for the Future”, (2011).
 David M. Hudock,”Biofiltration As A Viable Alternative For Air Pollution Control At Department Of Defense
Surface Coating Facilities”
 Gero Leson & Arthur M. Winer,” Biofiltration: An Innovative Air Pollution Control Technology for VOC
Emissions”, (march-2012).
 J .W. Van groenestijin and P. G.M. Hesselink, “Biotechniques for air pollution control”, Biodegradation, (1993).
 M. Ardjmand, A. Safekordi and S. Farjadfard,” Simulation of biofilter used for removal of air contaminants
(ethanol)”, (2005).