ODOUR BIOFILTRATION OVERVIEW

Bioaction was established in 2009 to develop environmentally sustainable solutions that have significant
greenhouse and ecological significance. It follows experiences gained by key company executives in the
application of sustainable and renewable inputs that can be used to mechanically and biologically
remove contaminates.
The company identified the need to engineer delivery systems that:
 enhanced biological process
 encourages and sustains active biomass
 increase dynamics
 reduces footprint
 increases energy efficient
 Increases construction efficiency
 reduces management input
 eliminates maintenance costs
 delivers significant commercial appeal
 scopes new market applications
Industry and municipal wastewater treatment operations are required to provide a much higher level of
odour abatement. Odours are recognised as by environmental agencies as contaminates. Many of the
odours contain hazardous compounds such as volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that have little or no
smell. These airborne contaminate are hazardous to human health and the environment including
greenhouse-depleting gases such as methane.
It was identified that many of the treatment processes used were inadequate and inefficient or simply
the wrong technology for the type of odour contaminate.
Other technologies include:
 Biofiltration
 Activated Carbon
 Wet Scrubbing
 Thermal Oxidisers
 Chemical Dosing

BIOFILTRATION
Biofiltration is an air-cleaning technology that uses microorganisms to break down gaseous
contaminants and produce non-odorous end products. It is used successfully around the world for
treating a wide range of air emissions from industrial sources. Biofiltration works well for treating odors
because most odorous emissions are made up of compounds at low concentrations that are readily
broken down by microorganisms.
The microorganisms in a biofilter break down (i.e.oxidise) airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
and oxidizable inorganic gases and vapors in the odorous exhaust air. The byproducts of the process
are primarily water, carbon dioxide, mineral salts, some VOCs, and microbial biomass.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BIOFILTRATION

Advantages of Biofiltration:
1. The main advantage of using biofiltration over other more convention control
methods is lower capita costs; lower operating costs, no chemical usage, and no
combustion source.
2. Biofiltration units can be designed to physically fit into any industrial setting. A
biofiltration unit can be designed with stacked beds to minimise space requirements
and multiple units can be run in parallel.
3. Biofiltration is versatile to treat odours, toxic compounds, and VOCs. The treatment
efficiencies of these constituents are up to >99%.
4. Filtration media, microbe inoculation and operating conditions can be used to tailor a
biofilter system for many emission points.

 
  

Disadvantages of Biofiltration:
1. Biofiltration cannot successfully treat some organic compounds, which have low
adsorption or degradation rates. This is especially true for chlorinated VOCs.
2. Contaminant sources with high chemical emissions would require large biofilter
units.
3. Sources with emissions that fluctuate severely or produce large spikes can be
detrimental to the of a biofilter’s microbial population and overall performance.
4. Acclimation periods for the microbial population may take weeks or even months,
especially for VOC treatment.

BIOFILTER OPERATING COSTS

• Electricity: Generally, electricity to operate the Fan/Blower(s) is the largest portion of the
operating cost for a biofilter system.
• Media replacement: The second largest operating cost is generally media replacement.
Depending on various factors, media replacement will typically occur after at least 4 years of
operation. The cost for media replacement consists of removing the old media, obtaining new
media and placing the new media.
• Periodic inspection and testing: Labour and laboratory costs associated with monitoring and
checking the biofilter systems are typically minimal.
• Equipment maintenance: There are few mechanical parts associated with a biofilter system.
As a result, maintenance costs are typically minimal.
• By-product treatment: The only by-product requiring further treatment is wastewater from the
biofilter drain system. This amount is normally small and results in minimal cost. Very high
ammonia or very high reduced sulphur compounds (RSC) in the air stream can lead to higher
disposal cost for the wastewater. There is low disposal cost for the media, as it does not
require further treatment prior to uses such as landscaping.

Costs of Biofilter Operation Compared to Alternatives

Technology Cost per thousand m3 of air

Incineration <$5.00
Chlorine <$3.00
Ozone <$3.00
Activated carbon with regeneration <$1.00
Biofiltration <$0.30

Operating costs
Technology
Fuel/chemical consumption Power
Incinerator $ 530 per m3/min Negligible
Wet chemical scrubber up to $ 282 per m3/min 35W per m3/min
Biofilter 0 21W per m3/min

Source: Bohn (1992) Although the actual costs vary with each case, biofiltration is always the more cost effective technology.

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Biodegradability of Organic and Inorganic Compounds in Biofilters

Boiling Point (Co)

Boiling Point (Co)

Molecular weight

Molecular weight
Degradability

Degradability
Compound

Compound
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons Sulphur - bearing compounds
methane 16.04 -182.5 (+) dimethyl sulfide 62.13 37.3 +
pentane 72.15 -129.7 (+) thiocyanates +
hexane 86.18 -95 + isothiocyanates ?
Aromatic hydrocarbons thiophene 84.14 84.2 +
benzene 78.12 80.1 + mercaptans +
toluene 92.15 110.6 ++ methyl mercaptan 48.11 6.2 +
xylene 106.17 138-144 ++ carbon disuilphide 76.14 46.3 +
styrene 104.16 145.2 + Nitrogen- bearing compounds
Oxygen- bearing compounds amides +
alcohols ++ amines ++
methanol 32.04 65 ++ trimethylamine 59.11 2.9 ++
butanol 72.12 99-117 ++ nitrogen heterocycles +
ethers (+) pyridine 79.1 115.5 +
tetrahydrofuran 72.12 67 ++ isocyanates ?
diethyl ether 74.12 34.5 (+) nitriles +
dioxane 88.12 101-105 (+) acetonitrile 41.05 81.6 +
aldehydes ++ isonitriles +
fomaldehyde 30.03 -21 ++ Halogenated hydrocarbons
acetaldehyde 44.05 20.8 ++ dichloromethane 84.93 40 (+)
ketones + trichloroethylene 131.39 87 ?
acetone 58.08 56.2 + perchloroethelene 165.83 121 ?
carbonic acids ++ chlorophenols +
butyric acid 88.12 163.5 ++ 1,1,1-trichloroethane 133.41 74.1 -
esters of carbonic acid + Hydrogen sulfide 34.08 -60.7 +
ethyl acetate 88.12 77.1 + Ammonia 17.03 -33.3 +
methyl methacrilate 100.13 100-101 ?
phenols +

Source: Soc. of German Engineers - (VDI), DI 3477,1991

++ excellent degradability

+ good degradability

(+) low degradability

- not degradable

? no consistent results

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BIOFILTRATION MEDIA  
The moist filter medium provides physical and chemical conditions
appropriate for the transfer of contaminants from the air to the liquid
phase and the biodegradation of the contaminants in the biofilm
layer. The mechanism of the biofiltration process includes a
combination of adsorption, absorption and microbial degradation.
Microorganisms contained in the biofilm layer continually metabolize
the contaminants, as they are absorbed, converting them ultimately
to water, carbon dioxide and salts.
Typical biofilter media material includes compost-based materials,
earth, heather, plastic, or wood-product based material. The purpose of the biofilter media is to provide
a large surface area for the absorption and adsorption of contaminants. The media also serves as a
nutrient source for the microbial population. In fact, some types of media lack proper nutrients and will
require the manual addition nutrients (e.g. nitrogen and phosphorous compounds) in order to sustain
microbial life. Most biofilters will operate for 2-5 years before it is necessary to renew or replenish the
filter media.
Major considerations when determining the appropriate filter material include:
• Ability to retain moisture to sustain biofilm layer;
• Large surface area, both for contaminant absorption and microbial growth;
• Ability to retain nutrients and supply them to microbes as required;
• Low resistance to air flow (minimizes pressure drop and blower power requirements);
• Physical characteristics, such as physical stability and ease of handling

BIOFILTER DESIGN PARAMETERS

Space Constraints:
Space at a site is the greatest concern during design of a biofiltration system. A small
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biofiltration unit can be designed to handle over 2000m per hour in as little space as 4.5m ,
new applied technology and bioengineering is reducing the footprint and space allocation.
Chemical Constituents and Concentrations:
Analysis of chemical constituents and their concentrations are required to determine if
biofiltration is a plausible alternative. Biofilters performed best when treating hydrophilic
compounds in low to medium concentrations. Some chemicals biologically degrade at low
rates, such as chlorinated compounds, which require units to be oversized.
Residence Time:
Residence Time represents the amount of time the microbes are in contact with the
contaminated air stream, and is defined by (Void Volume/Volumetric Flow Rate).
Consequently, longer residence times produce higher efficiencies; however, a design
must minimise residence time to allow the biofilter to accommodate larger flow rates. For
most biofilters, residence times range between 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Humidity:
The humidity of gas stream is important for maintaining the moisture content of the
biofilter media. Gas streams introduced to the biofiltration system are usually pumped through a
humidifier prior to entering the biofilter. The gas entering the biofilter should be humidified to greater
than 95% relative humidity.
Ph-Control:
The by-products of microbial degradation are organic acids. In order to maintain the pH of the vessel
around neutral, or a pH of 7, buffering may be required.
Biofilter Media:
The media used in biofilters can include coir, zeolite, peat, bark, composted sewage sludge, granular
carbon or other suitable materials. It should be homogenous to provide even air diffusion and not create
preferential paths or venting. Generally, the media should be capable of providing nutrients to the
microorganisms and minimising pressure drop. In addition, the moisture content of the biofilter media
must be maintained between 30% and 60% in order to support the microbial population. In addition to

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humidifying the airflow, sprinkler systems are frequently installed inside the biofilter that can be
controlled to maintain suitable bed moisture.
Pressure Drop:
Pressure drop across the biofilter reactor vessel should be minimised since an increase in pressure
drop requires more blower power and can result in air channelling through the media. Pressure drop is
directly related to the moisture content in the media, media pore size, and compaction through media
decomposition. Consequently, media filter selection and watering is critical to biofilter performance and
energy efficiency. Ideally the media should also be free draining and not allow it to become waterlogged
causing an anaerobic environment. For a typical biofilter pressure drops range between 1 and 10 hPa.
Maintenance:
The operation and maintenance of the biofiltration system would require weekly site visits during
initiation of operations for emission. However, after acclimation and all system problems are resolved
the frequency of site visits could be reduced to the biweekly or monthly.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
Biofilters have been used for odour abatement for many years in municipal and industrial applications.
VOC applications to date have included the following industries:
• Chemical and petrochemical industry
• Oil and gas industry
• Synthetic resins
• Paint and ink
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Waste and wastewater treatment
• Soil and groundwater remediation
Odour abatement applications to date have included the following industries.
• Sewage treatment
• Slaughter houses
• Rendering
• Gelatine and glue plants
• Agricultural and meat processing
• Tobacco, cocoa and sugar industry
• Flavour and fragrance

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