Quantitative microbiological investigation of activated foam and zeolite charges used for biological air treatment

Abstract

In recent years complex treatment technologies including not only microbiological but also other efficient air treatment methods have been increasing applied. The highest effect is achieved when different methods are optimally combined together. With the aim to improve the efficiency of volatile organic compounds removal from the air, the biological and adsorption air treatment methods are combined in the work. The investigation showed that microorganisms participating in the process of biological treatment could also reproduce in the charges of inorganic origin composed of natural zeolite and foam. When these charges are mixed with wood chips the microbiological activity of the medium is increased. A charge composed of the mixture of wood chips and zeolite, 150 mm thick, was distinguished by the best treatment qualities. The highest microbiological activity in this charge was achieved when air contaminated with butanol was passed through it at the temperature of 30 °C. The number of units forming the colonies of microorganisms in zeolite amounted to 19.8 x 104 cfu/g, and the concentration of butanol decreased from 303 mg/m3 to 219 mg/m3. A high level of contaminant removal will be achieved upon increasing a filtering layer.