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Bioscrubbers

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Bioreactors for Waste Gas Treatment

Part of the book series: Environmental Pollution ((EPOL,volume 4))

Abstract

Bioscrubbers for waste gas treatment are characterised by a physical separation of absorption of volatile compounds into water and subsequent biological treatment of the water in two unit operations. The waste gas is cleaned in an absorber, a gas-liquid contactor, in which the pollutants are transferred from the gas phase to the aqueous phase. The gas—liquid contactor preferred for this purpose is an absorption column with a packed bed and counter-current flow of gas and water. The water leaving the absorber, loaded with dissolved pollutants, is regenerated by biological treatment in a bioreactor. Generally this bioreactor is a tank, aerated with air bubbles and containing suspended activated sludge, with a much larger volume than the absorber. The cleaned water is recycled to the top of the absorber again. In Figure 5.1 a drawing of a bioscrubber can be found with the unit operations involved. To guarantee microbial biodegradation activity, a nutrient solution should be added to the water phase. In addition, titrants (acid or alkali) may be added to control the pH of the aqueous phase, which can be required for an optimum biological activity and/or an optimum absorption process. Since suspended biomass and dissolved compounds may accumulate in the water phase, a stream of wastewater should be produced. To replenish wasted and evaporated water, fresh water is added regularly or continuously. Besides volatile compounds also dust and aerosols are absorbed in the water phase. If too high concentrations of particles are expected in the water phase, because of this solids absorption process, particles in the gas phase may be removed by a filter or separate scrubber prior to the bioscrubber.

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Authors
  1. Johan W. Van Groenestijn
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of La Coruña, La Coruña, Spain

    C. Kennes  & M. C. Veiga  & 

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Van Groenestijn, J.W. (2001). Bioscrubbers. In: Kennes, C., Veiga, M.C. (eds) Bioreactors for Waste Gas Treatment. Environmental Pollution, vol 4. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0930-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0930-9_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5772-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-0930-9

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