A comparative study of two composts as filter media for the removal of gaseous reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs) by biofiltration: Application at industrial scale

This work presents the use of two composts as filter media for the treatment by biofiltration of odors emitted during the aerobic composting of a mixture containing sewage sludge and yard waste. The chemical analysis of the waste gas showed that the malodorous compounds at trace level were the reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs) which were dimethyl sulfide (Me2S), methanethiol (MeSH) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Laboratory tests for biofiltration treatment of RSCs were performed in order to compare the properties of two filter media, consisted of a mature compost with yard waste (YW) and a mixture of mature compost with sewage sludge and yard waste (SS/YW). The maximum elimination capacity (EC) values obtained with the YW mature compost as packing material were 12.5 mg m(-3) h(-1) for H2S, 7.9 mg m(-3) h(-1) for MeSH and 34 mg m(-3) h(-1) for Me2S, and the removal efficiency decreased in the order of: H2S > MeSH > Me2S. Moreover, the YW compost filter medium had a better behavior than the filter medium based on SS/YW in terms of acclimation of the microbial communities and moisture content. According to these results, a YW mature compost as packing material for an industrial biofilter were designed and this industrial biofilter was found effective under specified conditions (without inoculation and addition of water). The results showed that the maximum EC value of RSCs was 935 mg m(-3) h(-1) (100% removal efficiency, RE) for an inlet loads (IL) between 0 and 1000 mg m(-3) h(-1). Thus, YW compost medium was proven efficient for biofiltration of RSCs both at laboratory and industrial scale. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.