Bio filters

06 CE 6024 Air Pollution Control Engineering

Dr. Ratish Menon

Associate Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering
SCMS School of Engineering & Technology, Kochi
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Removal of Odour
 ammonia (NH3 ), amines, hydrogen sulfide, organic sulfides and
mercaptans.
Produced from biological processes
 Requirement at Sewage Treatment Plants & Industries
“sulfate-reducing bacteria” utilize the sulfate ion as an oxygen source
for respiration.
Biofilters are available for past 100 years to control odour

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Biofilter for Odour Control
A biofilter is simply a bed of organic material (media) with a suitable porosity, allowing for air
passage, humidity trapping and biomass growth.
As the foul air passes upward through the media, the odor causing compounds are adsorbed onto a
film of water and microbes developed on the organic material.
These microbes then convert the adsorbed compounds by oxidizing them to carbon dioxide, water
and inorganic salts.
The biofilter is a self-regulating ecosystem, and is therefore likely to function for long time, without
excessive control.
The biofiltration technology has been developed for over 100 years and its many applications
generally differ for the filtering media (soil, compost, wood chips and various mixture) and for the
biofilter construction (in-ground or in vessel above the ground, covered or open air).

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 Components of Biofilter
1. The containment
2. Filter media
3. Humidifier and wetting system
4. Air diffusion system
5. The air ducts & fans

For efficient operation:

a) Control moisture levels
b) Regulate pH
c) Provide enough contact time
d) Inoculate with dedicated bacteria
at the startup

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Design parameters

 Typical elimination capacity is in the range of 20–130 g/m3 h for H2 S and other odorants.
 Specific air flow rates for each covered section is designed assuming minimum 4 volume changes plus any
forced air inlet

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Maintenance issues
Toxicity of inlet gas- affects micro organisms in biofilter
Clogging- due to high particulate matter loading
off-gas temperatures be maintained between 20 and 40 °C
moisture content between 40 percent and 60 percent by weight to be maintained
Drainage will have high BOD and low pH
microorganisms prefer a specific pH range
Due to gradual compaction of the filter material, pressure drop and power consumption will
increase with time and eventually require the fluffing or replacement of the filter material.

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