Effects of Operational Conditions on the Performance of Triethylamine Biofiltration

Nitrogen compounds such as triethylamine are odorants generally found in chemical plants and foundriesin which cold-box cores are made. in this study, the efficiency of biofiltration of triethylamine(tea) vapor was evaluated. experiments were conducted in two 6-l biofilters arranged in three stagesand packed with inoculated compost - wood chips (40:60v/v) as the filter medium. the seed inoculumwas obtained from municipal activated sludge. tests were made to compare effects of initial temperature(30±1°c, biofilter a) and (23±2 °c, biofilter b) on the performance of the biofilter. tea eliminationrate pattern was evaluated by changing loading rates (6-138 gm-3h-1 and hydraulic retention times(40-60 s) while operating at constant temperature and humidity at 50-55%. results showed that organicloading rates (olr) of up to 114.4 gm-3h-1 (biofilter a) and 90.56 gm-3h-1 (biofilter b) could behandled without any apparent indication of maximum elimination capacity and substrate inhibition.the elimination capacity of biofilters could reach up to 72 gm-3h-1 (biofilter a) and 61.5 gm-3h-1(biofilterb). when the loading of tea exceeded the critical values, substrate inhibition occurred and the eliminationcapacity decreased. however, the requirement of keeping the pressure drop below 4 cm watergauge per meter of bed height to avoid operational problems warranted lower than maximum capacityoperation. the optimal olr values of 90±14 gm-3h-1 are suggested for hydraulic retention time value of48 s and temperature of 30±1°c. under these conditions, elimination capacity of 71±3 gm-3h-1and removalefficiency of 81±14% was achieved.