DEVELOPMENT OF BIOFILM ON POLYURETHANE FOAM AND ITS APPLICATION IN A BIO-TRICKLING FILTER FOR TREATMENT OF ODOR FROM DOMESTIC SOLID WASTE

Abstract

This study investigates the ability of a self-fabricated bio-trickling filter using commercial polyurethane foam as bio-media for treatment of odor-causing gases (e.g., ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and mercaptans) under different nitrogen loadings in gas and liquid phases. The experimental results showed that the biological filter operating with a gas flow rate of 11.44 m³/h and an empty bed residential time of 19.67 s could treat the multi-components emitted from domestic solid waste. Ammonia treatment efficiency was achieved in the range of 87.3 to 99.7% with the highest ammonia input concentration of l47.3 mg/m³. The efficiency of mercaptans treatment was from 60.2 to 72.8% with an input concentration of about 8 mg/m³ while the low input and output concentrations of hydrogen sulfide were found (≤ 0.002 mg/m³). Besides, there was a significant difference between elimination capacity of NH₃-N (gas phase) and accumulated capacity of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N (liquid phase) although the ammonia treatment efficiency was very high, which could be attributed to the denitrification process. The results from this study hence suggest using bio-trickling filter for effective treatment of NH₃ and other odor in gas generated from domestic solid waste.