International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056

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BIOFILTER SYSTEM FOR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL: A REVIEW

Surekha Kolekar1, Ashwini Patil2, S.P. Shingare3, M.B. Mandake4
1,2UG Student, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
3Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Navi Mumbai,
Maharashtra, India
4Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Navi

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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ABSTRACT - Air pollution is a main problem faced by Contaminations realities Sick Building Syndrome is a
industries during the different production process. The wellbeing condition identified with pesticides, bug
control of this pollution is very necessary for the sprays and synthetic substances we use at home and
environment and living organism as it creates harmful workplaces. Toxins certainties in the incomparable
effects. One of the main used pollution control "Exhaust cloud Disaster" in London in 1952, four
technology is biofilter. This is relatively simple and thousand individuals kicked the bucket in a couple of
cheap technology. It can be easily operator and produce days because of the high groupings of contamination air
biomass. The contaminants removed from the air include contamination affected on human rural, fowl,
microbes and harmful gases. The contaminants removed atmosphere the two sorts of air poisons are essential
are utilized as a food source for the microbes and toxins, which enter the environment specifically, and
exhausted into the atmosphere as small amounts of auxiliary toxins, which structure from a substance
carbon dioxide and water vapor. The advantage bio response. (Katz j,1980)
filters have over all of these technologies is their ability
to treat dilute gas streams in cost effective manner. Causes of air pollution
Researchers are does to improve the biofilter by Air contaminations are strong particles, gases, and fluid
association with the other available technologies Include beads noticeable all around that can unfavourably
high fuel use, high maintenance requirements, high influence biological communities and the strength of
capital costs, and the Pollution of wash water or air people. Major surrounding air contaminations
streams in the removal process. incorporate poisonous metals, polycyclic fragrant
Keywords: Air pollution, biofilter, contaminants, hydrocarbons, benzene, particulate issue (PM), nitrogen
microbes oxides, sulphur Oxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone.
Power plants, production lines, and vehicle and air traffic
1. INTRODUCTION are the most essential anthropogenic wellsprings of air
contamination. Moreover, characteristic sources, for
Air contamination comprises of vapours, fluid, or strong example, out of control fires and volcanic action add to
substances that, when present in adequate fixation, for surrounding air contamination. (Hein, 1989)
an adequate time, and under specific conditions, will in
general interfere with human solace, wellbeing or The cardiovascular and respiratory impacts of this major
welfare, and cause natural harm. Air contamination ecological wellbeing hazard factor have been widely
causes corrosive downpour, ozone consumption, explored. Recently, a lot of research has been done to
photochemical exhaust cloud, and other such wonders. examine whether air contamination is destructive to the
Carbon dioxide, an ozone depleting substance, is the cerebrum. Rate of air contamination is high especially in
fundamental contamination that is warming Earth. In kids since they invest much energy outside and have a
spite of the fact that living things transmit carbon high breathing rate. An unsettling influence of fast and
dioxide when they inhale, carbon dioxide is broadly broad formative procedures experienced by youngsters
viewed as a contamination when related with vehicles, may largely affect the sensory system. A new born child's
planes, control plants, and other human exercises that blood– mind boundary is increasingly defining less to
include the consuming of petroleum derivatives, for interruption, enabling toxicants to enter the cerebrum.
example, gas and gaseous petrol. Air toxins come as (Karl b. et.al, 1951)
gases or particles. (McDonald, 1981) Pollutants Industrial plants and factories
certainties it is assessed that you inhale 20,000 litters of
air every day. This implies the more dirtied the air is, the Plants that produce the products as a whole depend on
more we inhale into our lung’s perilous synthetic regular discharge, yet release huge amount of
concoctions. Contaminations realities Air can be dirtied contamination into the air. Mechanical plants that
both inside and outside. Tobacco and different sorts of produce metals, for example, aluminium and steel, refine
smoking are instances of indoor air contamination. oil, produce bond, integrate plastic, or make different
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synthetic compounds are among those that can create 3. BIOFILTRATION HISTORY
hurtful air contamination. Now and then mechanical
plants discharge large amount of air contamination While the use of bio filtration within the us is not wide
incidentally in a short space of time. One outstanding unfold, many these frameworks square measure
case occurred in Bhopal, India in December 1984, when a effectively operating in Europe, Netherlands New
vast substance plant kept running by the Union Carbide Sjaelland, Germany, and Japan. Bio filters are planned
organization discharged a harmful gas (methyl essentially for scent management at waste matter
isocyanine) that hung over the neighbourhood, around treatment plants, rendering plants, and fertilizing the
3000 individuals and harming thousands more. (Hein, soil activities. In any case, bio filters square measure
1989) polishing off increasingly distinguished within the
treatment of VOCs and different natural mixes. (Android
2. TYPES OF AIR POLLUTION SYSTEM v. et. al, 1997)
Other control innovation for the control of VOCs and air 1923 -- Biological strategies were projected to treat
toxics incorporate burning, carbon adsorption, build-up, odorous emissions.
and wet scouring. The preferred standpoint that bio
filters have over these advances is their capacity to treat 1955 -- Biological strategies were applied to treat
weakens gas streams in a financially savvy way. odorous emissions in low concentrations in FRG.
Inadequacies related with the other accessible advances 1960’s -- Bio filtration was used for the treatment of
incorporate high fuel use, high upkeep prerequisites, evaporated pollutants each in FRG and USA.
high capital expenses, and the contamination of wash
water or air streams in the expulsion procedure. 1970’s -- Bio filtration is employed with high success in
Different advancements frequently take the FRG.
contamination from one structure and spot it in another,
for instance, expelling pollution from an air stream and 1990’s -- nowadays, there square measure over five
putting it in the clothes washer water. Bio-altars enable hundred bio filters in operation each in FRG and
the biotransformation of the contamination to less-or Netherlands and it's wide spreading in USA.
nontoxic structures and decreased volumes. (Peter l)
4. BIOFILTER
Table 1. Types of Air Pollution System (Peter l)
Distinctive sorts of technique for controlling air
pollution. one of the Bio oxidations a bio channel
Bio-filter Bio-scrubber Bio-carbon framework. Bio-oxidation is a naturally air
contamination control innovation that uses microscopic
Low operating High operating costs High operating organisms &fungi to organically assimilate and process
costs costs vapour stage VOCs and smelly mixes normally found in
mechanical and metropolitan. (James t. Boswell,2013)
Low capital Need for complex High Moderate System by means of instigated draft fans, the
costs chemical capital costs contaminants first experience microorganisms in a
circulated air through sump and inorganic media with
Effective feed systems Carbonlife
removal of reduced by moist bio film development. The last treatment happens in a
manure media, where they are caught and processed by
compounds a network of normally happening organisms. The
contaminants are used as a nourishment hotspot for the
Low pressure Does not remove all Createsecondary microorganisms and depleted into the environment as
drops VOCs waste little measures of carbon dioxide and water vapour. Bio
filtration is a moderately new contamination control
streams
innovation. The most widely recognized style bio
No further Nozzlemaintenance channel is only a major box the least difficult innovation
waste streams often to be considered inside the study of organic air filtration
IS the bio channel. Some can be as large as a b-ball court
produced required or as little as one cubic yard. A bio channel's principle
work is to carry microorganisms into contact with
toxins. (David m. Haddock,2007) Bio filters-made out of
a strong help, secured by a functioning bio film, a bed
through which the gas with unsafe mixes go to nature an
innovation accessible and is being explored now-a-days.
The system of the procedure comprises of evacuating the
undesirable smelly natural compound from the vaporous
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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 06 Issue: 04 | Apr 2019 www.irjet.net p-ISSN: 2395-0072

stage, agreeing its ingestion or adsorption onto the microbial bio film/liquid phase attached to the filter
permeable strong period of the bio filter or medium. Microbes convert the Contaminant to carbon
disintegration into the fluid stage, and after that dioxide (CO2) and water. (Joseph s. Devein.et.al,2000)
oxidation of this mixes by microorganisms. (S. F. Adler, J.
E. Burgess,2001)

4.1. BIOFILTER MECHANISM

Figure1 : Internal Mechanisms Of a Bio filters. (Joseph s.

Figure 2: Schematic diagrams of (A) Above-ground
Devein.et.al,2000)
closed bio filters and (B) Belowground (Joseph s.
Table2: Differanciation between biofilteration , chemical Devein.et.al,2000)
oxidation, thermal process
The filter-bed medium consists of comparatively inert
substances (compost, peat,
Bio-filtration Thermal Chemical etc.) that guarantee giant surface attachment areas and
process oxidation extra nutrient offer. Because the air passes
1. Only by 1. By product is 1. Product through Botswana monetary unit, the
product is waste nitrogen oxide chlorine and contaminants within the air section sorbs into the bio
biomass. which causes chlorinated film and onto the filter
ozone depletion products. medium, wherever they're biodegraded (Figure 2). Bio
and smog filters aren't filtration units as strictly outlined.
formation. Instead, they're systems that use a mix of basic
2. Ambient processes: absorption, adsorption, degradation,
temperature and 2. Require and natural action of gas section contaminants. (Joseph s.
pressure precise Devein.et.al,2000)
process. 2. Required temperature and
additional nature pressure 4.2. PARAMETERS
gas for achieving condition.
3. Investment high The microbial inoculums, medium pH, temperature, and
and operation temperature the medium moisture and nutrient content (Table3).
cost are lower hence increases 3. In chemical
CO2. Table3: Typical Bio filters Operating Conditions for
than other two. oxidations Waste Air Treatment (Joseph s. Devein.et.al,2000)
chemicals have
to stored and Parameter Typical value
3. Operation and handled. Bio filters layer height 1-1.5 m
handling cost is Bio filters area 1-3000 m2
high. Waste air flow 50-300,000 m3 h-I
Bio filters surface loading 5-500 m h'
Bio filters volumetric 5-500 m3 h~^
Contaminated air passes through the filter bed medium
loading
(compost, peat, soil, etc.) with oxygen (O2) and sorbs into
Bed void volume 50%

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Mean effective gas residence 15-60 s 5. BIOFILTER PROCESS

time
Pressure drop per meter of 0.2-1.0 cm water gauge Bed material
bed height (max. 10 cm)
Inlet air relative humidity >98% Peat, hater, bark, composted sewage sludge, granular
pH of the support material pH 6-8 carbon, other suitable material.
Typical removal efficiencies 60-100% The useful life of media is 5 years.
Inlet pollutant and/or odour 0.01-5 g m-3, 500-50,000
concentration OU m-3 Reaction
Bio Degradation is — Organic Pollutant + O2 CO2+ H2O
4.3. Technology effectiveness and costs + Heat + Biomass (Burns,1995)

There is no waste gas treatment innovation that can

adequately and monetarily be connected to each
mechanical or business application. The viability of an
innovation can frequently be characterized by the
stream rates and focuses at which satisfactory financially
savvy treatment can be normal (Figures 3). For all
advances, cost-viability is site explicit. Expenses rely
upon the specific application, squander stream to be
dealt with, materials required for development, checking
frameworks, and so forth. This makes it hard to look at
explicit expenses of advances between locales.
Nonetheless, some broad perceptions can be made.
Expenses for waste gas control advancements fluctuate
due to preparing contrasts. On account of vitality costs,
incinerators are best connected to air with higher
convergences.(Josephs.Devein.et.al,2000)
Figure 4: Bio Filter (Chou. m. et.al,1997)

Process description
Infiltration utilizes a supported media
for microbe growth to get rid of odours and organic
contaminants from air streams. The filter consists of a
closed chamber containing contamination degrading
microbes and absorbed water suspended in a very filter
medium. The filter medial is meant to produce a
high capability for water uptake, have an
extended operating life, and supply a coffee pressure
drop for the gases passing through the media. (Android
v. et. al, 1997)
Working
Their eating regimen depends principally on carbon-
based mixes, water, and oxygen (for Aerobic responses)
and macronutrients. Bioreactors use microorganisms to
expel toxins from Emissions by expending the
contaminations. The idea is basic, yet the execution can
be very confused.
Bioreactors have been utilized for a long time to treat
Flow Rate sewage and different odoriferous, waterborne waste.
Figure3: Investment Cost v/s flow rate (Joseph s. Around sixty years back, Europeans started utilizing
Devein.et.al,2000) bioreactors to treat defiled air (scents); especially
outflows from sewage treatment plant plants. The
underlying procedure utilized a gadget called a "bio

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channel." A bio channel is typically sand rendering materials like vegetable matter, soil soil and
rectangular. (Jialing halo.et.al) compost sometimes contain spare microorganisms to
seed a bio filter treating air from a placental building or
6. BIO FILTER ELEMENTS manure storage. Bio filters can also be seeded with
aerated manure. (Vijay kumar1.et.al,2013)
Open-bed horizontal bio filters square measure the
foremost common in animal agriculture embraces the Bio filter media moisture control is essential for
subsequent elements: effective treatment
an automatically airy area with perishable gas
emissions. a disciple to manoeuvre the odorous exhaust Bio filter media must embody lots of voids, 50-80 plc., to
air from the building or manure storage through the permit air to flow through simply. several bio filters
duct, plenum, and bio filter media. Ducting connecting employed in animal agriculture use a media that's a mix
the airy area associated an air plenum that distributes of wood chips and compost. Wood chips offer structural
the air to be treated equally to a lower place the bio filter support and void house, associated compost provides
media. nutrient-rich surroundings and an initial supply of
Microorganisms. Recent analysis has incontestable that
6.1. Moisture content media comprised primarily of Wood chips coated in
manure suspension or another being supply is
Bio channel media dampness control is fundamental for additionally effective and needs less frequent
viable treatment. Deficient dampness can lessen channel replacement. Alternative doable filter media embody
productivity by enabling the media to dry out, wood bark, Coconut fabricator, peat, granular-activated
deactivating the organisms and making breaks that carbon, prelate, lava rock, and vinyl benzene beads.
permit air directing. An excess of dampness can connect (Richard k. Nicolai,2012)
a portion of the pores the media, cause diverting, confine
wind stream through the media and the horse shelter, 7. APPLICATIONS (Burns,1995)
and breaking point oxygen stream in soaked regions in
the media, which makes anaerobic zones in the bio film. 1. Chemical and petrochemical industry
These anaerobic zones may create nitrous oxide, a vital
2. Oil and gas industry
ozone harming substance. Some abundance dampness is
by and large not an issue in light of the fact that the 3. Synthetic resins
additional dampness could either deplete through the
media or dissipate because of the wind current through 4. Paint and ink
the media. (Kevin a. Jani,2012)
5. Pharmaceutical industry
6.2. Temperature
6. Waste and wastewater treatment
Microorganisms endure a scope of temperatures. They 7. Soil and Groundwater remediation
are most dynamic somewhere in the range of 70 and
90°F. In winter the cooler temperatures will lessen the 8. Sewage treatment
microbial action, and yet, there is less wind current since
winter ventilating rates are roughly one-tenth of the 8. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
mid-year levels. Most bio channels keep up segments of
the bio channel media above solidifying even in winter Table 4: Advantages and Disadvantages (Vijay
because of constant stream of warm air from animals or kumar1.et.al,2013)
poultry structures. Be that as it may, bio channels on Advantages Disadvantages
compost stockpiles or on unheated structures will
solidify in chilly climate, incidentally ceasing bio channel 1. Low operating and 1. Large footprint
treatment. As the bio channel warms up in the spring, capital costs. requirement.
microorganisms wind up dynamic again and bio channel 2. Effective removal 2. Medium
viability is re-established. Warming a bio channel to of compounds. deterioration will
abstain from solidifying is normally not practical in
3. Low pressure occur.
creature agribusiness. (Vijay kumar1.et.al,2013) drops. 3. Less suitable for
6.3. Microorganism seeding 4. No further waste high
streams produced. concentrations.
Bio filter treatment potency depends on 5. Most bio filters are 4. Moisture and pH
the microbe break-down of volatile compounds within constructed from difficult to
the air. organism sort and variety within the bio filter common materials control.
impact performance. Natural media locally available 5. Large land

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 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056
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such as lumber, requirement for [7]. James t. Boswell, Ph.D. & Tracy Barton, project
fiberglass, and traditional design. manager, reducing greenhouse gases through bio-
plastic pipe. 6. No continuous oxidation,2013.
6. They can be internal liquid
assembled using flow in which to [8]. David m. Haddock, bus, bio filtration as a viable
carpenters, adjust bed pH or alternative for air pollution control at department of
plumbers, and to add nutrients. defines surface coating facilities ,2007.
earthmovers. 7. Natural bed [9]. S. F. Adler, “bio filtration-a primer, chem. Eng. Prig,
media used in bio 97(4), pp.33-41, 2001
filters must be
replaced every 2 [10]. J. E. Burgess, “developments in odour control and
to 5 years. Bed waste gas treatment”, biotechnology, 2001.
replacement can
take 2 to 6 weeks, [11]Https://www.slideshare.net/ashishkumaryadav3/bi
depending on bed o filters-for-control-of-air-pollution
size. [12]. Joseph s. Devein, Marc a. Discusses, Todd s.
Webster, bio filtration for air pollution control,2000.
9. CONCLUSION
[13]. Chou, m. And change, w. “screening of bio filtration
Bio filtration assumes vital job responsible for air material for vow treatment,” journal of the air and waste
contamination. The fundamental points of interest are management association, 47: 674-681 (1997).
Low expense, effectively work, and produce biomass.
Conventional advances, for example, cremation and [14]. Burns, B.Sc., "history and development of bio
assimilation are powerful air contamination control filtration", 1995
advances. In any case, the monetary viability of burning [15]. Jialing halo, ye woo and shuxiao wang, technologies
decays when it is utilized for Low-focus squander for air pollution control: a review, encyclopaedia of life
streams, while carbon adsorption frequently makes support systems (eels)
auxiliary Wastes that must be treated as strong unsafe
waste. An option in contrast to these conventional [16]. Kevin a. Jani, a review of bio filter uses and the main
advances has been the improvement of bio filtration design and performance factors,2012.
Technology. Bio filtration will assume a noteworthy job
in the treatment of natural and inorganic emanations [17]. Richard k. Nicolai, a review: bio filters for odour
from an assortment of mechanical and waste air and air pollution mitigation,2012.
treatment forms.
[18]. Vijay kumar1 v. sridevi2*, n. harsha3, m.v.v.
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