Biodegradation of Gas-phase Styrene in a High-performance Biotrickling Filter using Porous Polyurethane Foam as a Packing Medium

Abstract

A biotrickling filter (BTF) packed with porous polyurethane (PU) foam sheets was developed and operated for removal of gas-phase styrene. The specific surface area and void fraction of the PU foam sheet were determined to be 497 m(2)/m(3) and 0.92, respectively, by using mathematical modeling and experimental measurement. The effects of gas flow direction (co-current and counter-current), styrene loading rate and empty bed residence time on the efficiency of the BTF were analyzed. The BTF achieved a high elimination capacity of 4.0 similar to 5.0 kg styrene/m(3) day due to the high specific surface area of the PU foam. The BTF could be operated repeatedly when excessively-grown biomass was periodically removed, using circulating NaOH solution for 2 h every four days