PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND KINETIC STUDIES ON REMOVAL OF BENZENE IN UP-FLOW TREE BARK BASED BIOFILTER

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of Phoenix dactylifera tree barks as the novel filter medium in an upflow biofilter employing mixed culture to degrade benzene. The experiments were conducted at different benzene concen-trations (1.5-6.0 g m(-3)) and EBRT (1.2-4.7 min). The elimination capacity was found to vary linearly with inlet loading rate in the range of 0-306 g m(-3) h(-1). Removal efficiency of 99% was achieved when the benzene concentration was 1.5 g m(-3) and decreased with increase in benzene concentration. Lower flow rates resulted in higher benzene removal efficiency. The concentration profile was observed at different heights of filter media. Temperature increase during biofiltration experiments confirmed the exothermic nature of biofiltration. The carbon dioxide production rate was related to elimination capacity by the equation CPR = 1.76EC + 18. A Michaelis-Menten type model was applied and the kinetic constants, maximum elimination capacity, ECmax' and saturation constant, K-s were found to be 217.4 g m(-3)h(-1) and 3.54 g m(-3), respectively.