The APERG program is funded by the Reuben and Alice Wasser A.P.C. Education and Research Charitable Remainder Unitrust.
2002 APERG Scholar: Feng Qiao
Rutgers University
Project Title: Effects of C:N Ratio in Waste Gases on the Performance of Biofilters
Abstract:
Biofiltration has received increased acceptance as a reliable, cost-effective, and low energy consuming air pollution control technology for low-concentration biodegradable waste gases from a variety of contaminant sources. An fundamental factor that can strongly affect and imit biofilter performance is the proportion of microbially available organic carbon to nitrogen (i.e., ammonia) (C:N ratio) in waste gases. When C:N ratio is high (e.g., typical landfill gases), microbial growth can be limited by the depletion of nitrogen, leading to a decrease of the VOC elimination rate . When the C:N ratio is low (e.g., poultry production facilities), microbial nitrogen requirements may be exceeded, and this may result in the loss of nitrogen as gaseous ammonia, as well as decreased overall biofilter performance due to toxicity and increased pH. The primary objective of this project is to systematically elucidate the effects of gas streams with variable C:N ratios on biofilter performance with respect to both VOCs and ammonia removal. Knowledge will be gained to establish the relationship between different gaseous C:N ratio and the required control of matrix conditions in order to improve biofilter system design and to sustain long term operation.
