By: Shankhey Bhagwat

Roll No: 02
Department Of Technology
 What is Bio-Oxidation?

 Bio-oxidation is a biological air

pollution control technology that
utilizes microbial like bacteria
and fungi to biologically absorb
and digest vapour phase VOCs
and odorous compounds.
 AIR
POLLUTION
Air Pollution is the
introduction of chemicals,
particulate matter, or
biological materials that
cause harm or discomfort
to humans or other living
organisms, or damages the
natural environment into
the atmosphere.
 Bio Reaction

Bio Reaction is simply

the use of microbes to
consume pollutant from a
contaminated air stream.
Almost any substance,
with the help of
microbes, will
decompose(decay) given
the proper environment.
 Factors affecting Bio-reaction

Temperature:
A blast of hot air can totally kill a
biomass faster than any other accident
when emissions from a process are too
hot, operators often pass hot emissions
through a humidifier that cools gasses
down by evaporative cooling.
Moisture:
 The second most critical variable is
bed moisture. Microbes need moisture
to survive and moisture creates the
bio-film that removes (absorbs)
pollutants from an air stream so that
they can be assimilated by microbes.

 Low moisture problems can be

corrected by passing emissions
through humidifier.
Acidity:
 Most bioreactors perform best when the bed pH
is near 7, or neutral.

 Some pollutants from acids when they

decompose production of acids over time will
lower pH and will eventually destroy microbes.

 This is the result of denatured protein which

brings about an alteration of the ionic charges on
the molecule. If a process emits pollutants that
produce acids, a plan must be developed to
neutralize these acids.
Microbes & Feeding:
 Bio-reaction tests to determine which
microbe strains perform best on a
particular mix of pollutants. They can then
inoculate the bed media with those strains
and start up with the “right” microbes in
place.

 Pollutants provide the main source of food

and energy, but microbes also require
macronutrients to sustain life. Decay of an
organic bed media can provide most
macronutrients. However, if a bed is
deficient in certain nutrients, microbes will
cease to grow and could begin to die.
Bio-reactor Techniques

1.Bio-filtration
1.Bio-scrubber
1.Bioremediation
 It uses moist solid media Bio-Filtration
 Driving force is solubility in water
and biodegradability

 High treatment performance is

associated with low molecular
weight and high water solubility.

Provided For:
 Large surface area

 Balanced energy sources and nutrients

 Stable structural matrix to allow the

gas stream to pass through.
 Advantages
1. Very moderate initial capital
costs.
2. Low operating costs.
3. Large energy savings over other
technology.
4. Generates non-hazardous by-
products.
5. Treatment to handle wide range of
VOCs.
6. Consortium of microorganisms,
once well developed can handle
moderate fluctuations in input gas
content.
Disadvantages
1. Large land requirement for
traditional design.
2. No continuous internal liquid flow
in which to adjust bed pH or to add
nutrients.
3. Traditional design does not have a
covered top.
4. Bed replacement can take 2 to 6
weeks, depends on bed size
Consists of two reactor :- Bio-Scrubber
 The first part is an absorption
tower, where pollutants are
absorbed by a liquid phase.

 Second reactor, which is a

kind of activated sludge unit,
where microorganisms
growing in suspended flocks
in the water degrade the
pollutants.

 The effluent of this unit is

re-circulated.
 Advantages
1. Save the cost of installing a
humidification process
2. Smaller footprint than other
bioreactors.
3. Because pH control and nutrient
feed can be automated, it requires
less attention than other
bioreactors .
4. Process is ideal for emissions that
produce acids upon treatment.
5. Bioscrubber can treat emissions
containing particulate matter
Disadvantages
1. More expensive
2. Over feeding can cause excessive
biomass growth, which can plug
the bioscrubber.
3. Operating cost can be higher.
4. Needs expensive and complex
feeding and neutralizing systems.
5. To control biomass growth, toxic
and dangerous compounds must be
inventoried and handles.
 Bioremediation

• Media selection is critical in biofilter design. Media must provide a suitable

environment for microbial growth and maintain a high porosity to allow air to flow
easily. Critical properties of media material include

(1) porosity,
(2) moisture holding capacity,
(3) nutrient content and
(4) slow decomposition.
Conclusion

 Like many other control technologies, bio- reaction works in

many cases, but not all. The trick is knowing when it will work
and when it won’t.

 If emissions are very concentrated or extremely toxic, they are

probably not suitable for bio- reaction.

 Yes, bio-reaction is a viable, low cost option in some

circumstances that qualify for this technology.
 Reference

 Air pollution control engineering, by De Nevers, second edition 2000, Mc Graw hill
Production.
 Biofilter Applications in Coating Industry, Journal of the Paint and Coatings Industry, XVII
(7), pp. 78-83
 “Bio-Oxidation, an Engineered Treatment of Industrial Air Streams”, by Jim Boswell and
Michael Foggia. Pro Environment© Journal.
 www.brooklyn.edu
 www.biohealthcenter.com/bioxirx
 www.sciencedirect.com
 www.scribd.com/pubmrd
 The PCC ™ journal (monthly edition)
 Slide Help by Prezi©
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