Performance Evaluation of a Biotrickling Filter for the Removal of Ethylbenzene from Polluted Air Stream

The removal of ethylbenzene from a contaminated air stream was studied in a lab scale biotrickling filter. Plastic pall rings were used as packing for immobilization of microorganisms and the biofilter was inoculated with a mixture of compost extract and ethylbenzene-contaminated water from Assaluyeh region. The active volume of biofilter was 4.7 liter and empty bed resistance time was considered 1 min. Operating phase lasted 95 days, during which inlet air flow rate was constant at 4.7 L/min and ethylbenzene concentration in inlet flow was increased from 0.5 to 2.5 g /m3. At the end of this phase, maximum elimination capacity of 133 g/m3h was obtained with removal efficiency of 93%. The results showed good performance of the biotrickling filter to remove ethylbenzene from the gas phase and promise operational applications of these bioreactors in various industries.