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Bioprocesses for Air Pollution Control

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2014) | Viewed by 39699

Special Issue Editor

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of La Coruña, La Coruña, Spain
Interests: waste gas treatment; wastewater treatment; fermentation technology; biodegradation; bioconversion; biofuels; biorefinery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

Air pollution has become a major concern worldwide. Different technologies are available for the removal of volatile pollutants, based either on mass-transfer of the pollutants from one phase to another or on the destruction of the pollutants. Bioprocesses belong to the latter group of technologies. Bioreactors allow the complete removal of odors and other volatile compounds from gaseous effluents. Bioprocesses can be used for the treatment of a wide range of gas flow rates, allowing complete destruction of pollutants or, occasionally, allowing their conversion to useful products. Recent developments have been made in the field of bioprocesses for air pollution control, which justifies the interest of a special issue in this field on topics such as:

  • Optimization of conventional bioreactors (biofilters, biotrickling filters, bioscrubbers)
  • Innovative bioreactors
  • Hybrid (biological+non-biological) and two-stage bioreactors
  • Anaerobic gas treatment
  • Resource recovery from waste gases
  • Biogas upgrading
  • Modelling of bioprocesses
  • Industrial and full-scale applications and case studies

Prof. Christian Kennes
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • air pollution control
  • biofilters
  • biotrickling filters
  • bioscrubbers
  • two-liquid phase reactors
  • membrane bioreactors
  • NOx, SOx
  • odors
  • volatile organic compounds

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

861 KiB  
Article
Numerical Study of the Simultaneous Oxidation of NO and SO2 by Ozone
by Bo Li, Jinyang Zhao and Junfu Lu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(2), 1595-1611; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120201595 - 29 Jan 2015
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6056
Abstract
This study used two kinetic mechanisms to evaluate the oxidation processes of NO and SO2 by ozone. The performance of the two models was assessed by comparisons with experimental results from previous studies. The first kinetic mechanism was a combined model developed [...] Read more.
This study used two kinetic mechanisms to evaluate the oxidation processes of NO and SO2 by ozone. The performance of the two models was assessed by comparisons with experimental results from previous studies. The first kinetic mechanism was a combined model developed by the author that consisted of 50 species and 172 reactions. The second mechanism consisted of 23 species and 63 reactions. Simulation results of both of the two models show under predictions compared with experimental data. The results showed that the optimized reaction temperature for NO with O3 ranged from 100~200 °C. At higher temperatures, O3 decomposed to O2 and O, which resulted in a decrease of the NO conversion rate. When the mole ratio of O3/NO was greater than 1, products with a higher oxidation state (such as NO3, N2O5) were formed. The reactions between O3 and SO2 were weak; as such, it was difficult for O3 to oxidize SO2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioprocesses for Air Pollution Control)
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1335 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Oxygen Supply on the Dual Growth Kinetics of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans under Acidic Conditions for Biogas Desulfurization
by Hyeong-Kyu Namgung and JiHyeon Song
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(2), 1368-1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120201368 - 27 Jan 2015
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5953
Abstract
In this study, to simulate a biogas desulfurization process, a modified Monod-Gompertz kinetic model incorporating a dissolved oxygen (DO) effect was proposed for a sulfur-oxidizing bacterial (SOB) strain, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, under extremely acidic conditions of pH 2. The kinetic model was calibrated [...] Read more.
In this study, to simulate a biogas desulfurization process, a modified Monod-Gompertz kinetic model incorporating a dissolved oxygen (DO) effect was proposed for a sulfur-oxidizing bacterial (SOB) strain, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, under extremely acidic conditions of pH 2. The kinetic model was calibrated and validated using experimental data obtained from a bubble-column bioreactor. The SOB strain was effective for H2S degradation, but the H2S removal efficiency dropped rapidly at DO concentrations less than 2.0 mg/L. A low H2S loading was effectively treated with oxygen supplied in a range of 2%–6%, but a H2S guideline of 10 ppm could not be met, even with an oxygen supply greater than 6%, when the H2S loading was high at a short gas retention time of 1 min and a H2S inlet concentration of 5000 ppm. The oxygen supply should be increased in the aerobic desulfurization to meet the H2S guideline; however, the excess oxygen above the optimum was not effective because of the decline in oxygen efficiency. The model estimation indicated that the maximum H2S removal rate was approximately 400 ppm/%-O2 at the influent oxygen concentration of 4.9% under the given condition. The kinetic model with a low DO threshold for the interacting substrates was a useful tool to simulate the effect of the oxygen supply on the H2S removal and to determine the optimal oxygen concentration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioprocesses for Air Pollution Control)
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1276 KiB  
Article
Conversion Characteristics and Production Evaluation of Styrene/o-Xylene Mixtures Removed by DBD Pretreatment
by Liying Jiang, Runye Zhu, Yubo Mao, Jianmeng Chen and Liang Zhang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(2), 1334-1350; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120201334 - 26 Jan 2015
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6829
Abstract
The combination of chemical oxidation methods with biotechnology to removal recalcitrant VOCs is a promising technology. In this paper, the aim was to identify the role of key process parameters and biodegradability of the degradation products using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor, [...] Read more.
The combination of chemical oxidation methods with biotechnology to removal recalcitrant VOCs is a promising technology. In this paper, the aim was to identify the role of key process parameters and biodegradability of the degradation products using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor, which provided the fundamental data to evaluate the possibilities of the combined system. Effects of various technologic parameters like initial concentration of mixtures, residence time and relative humidity on the decomposition and the degradation products were examined and discussed. It was found that the removal efficiency of mixed VOCs decreased with increasing initial concentration. The removal efficiency reached the maximum value as relative humidity was approximately 40%–60%. Increasing the residence time resulted in increasing the removal efficiency and the order of destruction efficiency of VOCs followed the order styrene > o-xylene. Compared with the single compounds, the removal efficiency of styrene and o-xylene in the mixtures of VOCs decreased significantly and o-xylene decreased more rapidly. The degradation products were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the main compounds detected were O3, COx and benzene ring derivatives. The biodegradability of mixed VOCs was improved and the products had positive effect on biomass during plasma application, and furthermore typical results indicated that the biodegradability and biotoxicity of gaseous pollutant were quite depending on the specific input energy (SIE). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioprocesses for Air Pollution Control)
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841 KiB  
Article
Ethanol and Acetic Acid Production from Carbon Monoxide in a Clostridium Strain in Batch and Continuous Gas-Fed Bioreactors
by Haris Nalakath Abubackar, María C. Veiga and Christian Kennes
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(1), 1029-1043; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120101029 - 20 Jan 2015
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7811
Abstract
The effect of different sources of nitrogen as well as their concentrations on the bioconversion of carbon monoxide to metabolic products such as acetic acid and ethanol by Clostridium autoethanogenum was studied. In a first set of assays, under batch conditions, either NH [...] Read more.
The effect of different sources of nitrogen as well as their concentrations on the bioconversion of carbon monoxide to metabolic products such as acetic acid and ethanol by Clostridium autoethanogenum was studied. In a first set of assays, under batch conditions, either NH4Cl, trypticase soy broth or yeast extract (YE) were used as sources of nitrogen. The use of YE was found statistically significant (p < 0.05) on the product spectrum in such batch assays. In another set of experiments, three bioreactors were operated with continuous CO supply, in order to estimate the effect of running conditions on products and biomass formation. The bioreactors were operated under different conditions, i.e., EXP1 (pH = 5.75, YE 1g/L), EXP2 (pH = 4.75, YE 1 g/L) and EXP3 (pH = 5.75, YE 0.2 g/L). When compared to EXP2 and EXP3, it was found that EXP1 yielded the maximum biomass accumulation (302.4 mg/L) and products concentrations, i.e., acetic acid (2147.1 mg/L) and ethanol (352.6 mg/L). This can be attributed to the fact that the higher pH and higher YE concentration used in EXP1 stimulated cell growth and did, consequently, also enhance metabolite production. However, when ethanol is the desired end-product, as a biofuel, the lower pH used in EXP2 was more favourable for solventogenesis and yielded the highest ethanol/acetic acid ratio, reaching a value of 0.54. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioprocesses for Air Pollution Control)
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1740 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Mathematical Modelling of the Removal of Hydrophilic VOCs by Biotrickling Filters
by Pau San-Valero, Josep M. Penya-roja, F. Javier Alvarez-Hornos, Paula Marzal and Carmen Gabaldón
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(1), 746-766; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120100746 - 14 Jan 2015
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5733
Abstract
A mathematical model for the simulation of the removal of hydrophilic compounds using biotrickling filtration was developed. The model takes into account that biotrickling filters operate by using an intermittent spraying pattern. During spraying periods, a mobile liquid phase was considered, while during [...] Read more.
A mathematical model for the simulation of the removal of hydrophilic compounds using biotrickling filtration was developed. The model takes into account that biotrickling filters operate by using an intermittent spraying pattern. During spraying periods, a mobile liquid phase was considered, while during non-spraying periods, a stagnant liquid phase was considered. The model was calibrated and validated with data from laboratory- and industrial-scale biotrickling filters. The laboratory experiments exhibited peaks of pollutants in the outlet of the biotrickling filter during spraying periods, while during non-spraying periods, near complete removal of the pollutant was achieved. The gaseous outlet emissions in the industrial biotrickling filter showed a buffered pattern; no peaks associated with spraying or with instantaneous variations of the flow rate or inlet emissions were observed. The model, which includes the prediction of the dissolved carbon in the water tank, has been proven as a very useful tool in identifying the governing processes of biotrickling filtration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioprocesses for Air Pollution Control)
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411 KiB  
Article
Biodegradation Kinetics of Tetrahydrofuran, Benzene, Toluene, and Ethylbenzene as Multi-substrate by Pseudomonas oleovorans DT4
by Dong-Zhi Chen, Yun-Feng Ding, Yu-Yang Zhou, Jie-Xu Ye and Jian-Meng Chen
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(1), 371-384; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120100371 - 31 Dec 2014
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6318
Abstract
The biodegradation kinetics of tetrahydrofuran, benzene (B), toluene (T), and ethylbenzene (E) were systematically investigated individually and as mixtures by a series of aerobic batch degradation experiments initiated by Pseudomonas oleovorans DT4. The Andrews model parameters, e.g., maximum specific growth rates (μ [...] Read more.
The biodegradation kinetics of tetrahydrofuran, benzene (B), toluene (T), and ethylbenzene (E) were systematically investigated individually and as mixtures by a series of aerobic batch degradation experiments initiated by Pseudomonas oleovorans DT4. The Andrews model parameters, e.g., maximum specific growth rates (μmax), half saturation, and substrate inhibition constant, were obtained from single-substrate experiments. The interaction parameters in the sum kinetics model (SKIP) were obtained from the dual substrates. The μmax value of 1.01 for tetrahydrofuran indicated that cell growth using tetrahydrofuran as carbon source was faster than the growth on B (μmax, B = 0.39) or T (μmax, T = 0.39). The interactions in the dual-substrate experiments, including genhancement, inhibition, and co-metabolism, in the mixtures of tetrahydrofuran with B or T or E were identified. The degradation of the four compounds existing simultaneously could be predicted by the combination of SKIP and co-metabolism models. This study is the first to quantify the interactions between tetrahydrofuran and BTE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioprocesses for Air Pollution Control)
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