Removal of greenhouse gas in biofilter using organic and inorganic media

Abstract

Moreover, we also investigated N 2 O conversion, which occurred simultaneously with CH 4 oxidation, during gas treatment in the biofilter. Abstract: A biofilter using organic (compost) and inorganic (pumice, porous silica pellet or poremat) media was applied to the removal of methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) to minimize the impact of off-gasses from municipal solid waste disposal global. The objective was to determine the appropriate biofilter media for CH 4 oxidation and N 2 O conversion. The off gas (59.6% CH 4 , 1.0% N 2 O) was fed simultaneously with air (1:3 ratio) into the biofilter. CH 4 oxidation and N 2 O conversion rates were observed over a 101-day period through the analysis of gas concentration along the biofilter’s depth using gas chromatography. Higher CH 4 oxidation in the biofilters containing organic and inorganic media was achieved, especially for the compost-poremat biofilter with 70.1 g CH 4 /m 3 /d realised. The most active methane oxidation zone was found near the gas inlet at the bottom of the biofilter. The presence of inorganic material helped promote aerobic conditions for CH 4 oxidation, especially during the initial period. N 2 O was also more completely removed with the biofilter containing inorganic media. Higher methanotrophic activities in matured biofilter media and the presence of methanotrophs type I, which prefer oxygen-rich conditions, were confirmed.