ISSN : 2288-9167(Print)
ISSN : 2288-923X(Online)
Removal characteristics and mass balance analysis of ammonia in trickle bed air biofilter packed with polyurethane foam
Yongkyeong Yoon,Jaeyong Shin,Daekeun Kim
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the response characteristics and performance of a biofilter in the removal of ammonia, as a malodor compound. A trickle-bed type biofilter was applied for this study, and operated at the ammonia loading rate of 0.97-15.52 g/m3·h. The results of the experiment indicate that the critical loading rate of ammonia to the biofilter was 10.7 g/m3·h and the elimination capacity was 11.6 g/m3·h. The analysis of nitrogen mass balance in the reactor indicates that inlet nitrogen as gas phase was converted through the biofilter into NH4 + (41.5% by mass), NO2 - (43%), and NO3 - (15%) as the available form of nitrogen in the effluent liquid. Free ammonia concentration in the effluent liquid was estimated as being in the range from 0.14 to 2.93 mg/L (average 1.7 mg/L) during the experimental period.
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