Empirical model for biofiltration of toluene

in this study the toluene removal efficiency of a composted pine bark biofilter was determined at loading rates ranging from 9.04 to 54.21 g m(-3) h(-1), retention times of 0.25-3.0 min, and at various bed heights. Toluene removal efficiencies exceeding 90% were obtained when the biofilter was subjected to a gas retention time in excess of 0.32 min (19.2 s) and loading rates below 42 g m(-3) h(-1). The data obtained were used to develop an empirical model. The empirical model successfully described the overall removal efficiency with an R-2 value of 0.98. The influence of oxygen concentration an the removal efficiency was also evaluated. Reduced biofilter performance was observed at oxygen concentrations below 5%. A wide range of microorganisms were isolated from the: biofilter, which included Corynebacterium jeikeium A, Corynebacterium nitrilophilus, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas mendocina, Sphingobacterium thalphophilum, and Turicella oritidis.