Performance of two biofilters with neutral and low pH treating off-gases.

Two different functional biofilters were carried out and compared for the treatment of off-gas containing multicomponent odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in this study. The effects of pH values and the empty bed retention time (EBRT) on the performance of the bioreactors were studied; and the characteristics of microbial populations in the two biofilters were also determined. The experimental results indicated that the removal efficiencies of hydrophilic compounds such as butyric acid and ammonia were higher in the neutral pH biofilter (NPB) than those in the low pH biofilter (LPB). In contrast, the removal efficiencies of the compounds with poor water solubility such as styrene and ethyl mercaptan were higher in the LPB than those in the NPB. The characteristics of microbial population in the two biofilters revealed that the heterotrophic bacteria, nonacidophilic thiobacteria, ammonia oxidizing bacteria, and nitrite oxidizing bacteria were major microorganisms in the NPB, whereas acidophilic thiobacteria and fungi were dominant in the LPB. Therefore, the performance of the biofilter depended on the characteristics of the compound being treated and the type of microorganisms.