PERFORMANCE OF A MONOLITH BIOREACTOR FOR THE REMOVAL OF STYRENE FROM POLLUTED AIR

The biological removal of gas - phase styrene using the fungus Sporothrix variecibatus was evaluated in a novel monolith bioreactor. Continuous experiments were carried out for 92 d at different inlet styrene concentrations, ranging between 0.07-2.5 g m(-3), and at two different flow rates corresponding to empty bed residence times (EBRTs) of 77 and 19 s respectively. A maximum elimination capacity of 67.4 g m(-3) h(-1) was observed at an inlet styrene load of 73.5 g m(-3) h(-1). To ascertain the instantaneous response of the attached fungus to withstand fluctuations in loading conditions, short - term shock load was conducted. Though, the performance of the monolith reactor was moderately high and satisfactory for gas - phase styrene, there are certain critical factors that have to be addressed and satisfied before implementing monolith bioreactors for full - scale applications.