0000000000718491
AUTHOR
Herman Van Langenhove
Removal of ethyl acetate, n-hexane and toluene from waste air in a membrane bioreactor under continuous and intermittent feeding conditions
BACKGROUND: European Union environmental policy has focused on abatement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial emissions, and new European VOC emission limits have been established. This study analyzes the performance of a composite membrane bioreactor treating air stream contaminated with ethyl acetate, n-hexane and toluene under continuous and intermittent feeding conditions. RESULTS: The system was operated under continuous feeding conditions: removal efficiencies (REs) higher than 99% were obtained for inlet loads up to 200 g m−3 h−1 and empty bed residence times (EBRTs) as short as 15 s for ethyl acetate. A maximum elimination capacity of 75 g m−3 h−1 (RE ∼66%) at an EBR…
Ethylbenzene removal under mesophilic conditions in a biofilter withMacadamia ternifolianutshells as a carrier material
BACKGROUND Biofilters are suitable to treat industrial emissions polluted with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), responsible for photochemical smog and depletion of the ozone layer. This study analyzes the performance of a biofilter with Macadamia ternifolia nutshells as a carrier material treating air streams contaminated with ethylbenzene under mesophilic conditions with continuous feeding. RESULTS The biofilter was operated continuously for 5 months applying several inlet loads (IL), empty bed residence times (EBRT) and temperatures. At a temperature of 303 ± 1 K removal efficiencies (RE) higher than 90% were obtained for ILs lower than 85.6 g m−3 h−1 and 70.6 g m−3 h−1 at an EBRT of 15…
Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes in ambient air and Pinus sylvestris L. needles: a comparative study between Belgium, Hungary and Latvia
Abstract Concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes (BTEX) in ambient air and in 1 yr old Pinus sylvestris pine needles were monitored along a busy road, petrol station and rural area of Belgium, Hungary and Latvia in a 1 yr period. To test P. sylvestris as a possible biomonitor for the BTEX concentrations, samples were taken in the four seasons. As the distribution of data was not normal, the level of pollution on different sites and seasons was compared and evaluated by non-parametric tests. The measured air concentrations did not differ significantly from one season to another throughout the year. There were, however, differences between sampling places. The C2-alkylbe…