Water Science & Technology Vol 43 No 11 pp 35–42 © IWA Publishing 2001
Polyurethane foam based biofilter media for toluene removal
W.M. Moe* and R.L. Irvine**
*
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-6405, USA
**
Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
ABSTRACT
Polyurethane foam medium was manufactured and analyzed to determine its suitability as a solid support medium for use in gas-phase biofilters. Physical and chemical studies were conducted to determine the medium's characteristics. The medium's ability to support an active biofilm capable of degrading volatile organic compounds was assessed using a laboratory scale biofilter fed a model waste stream containing toluene for more than 250 days with empty bed residence times (EBRTs) ranging from two to four minutes. Results are presented that show how a polyurethane foam medium with high porosity, suitable pore size, low density, and an ability to sorb water was able to remove over 99% of the influent toluene when fed at a concentration of 200 ppmv. An operating strategy is described which effectively prevented two problems common to conventionally operated biofilter systems: nutrient limitations and biosolid accumulation.
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