| dc.description.abstract | Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are gaseous emission contaminants which
are harmful to human health and the environment. In Kenya, literature on
emission and treatment of VOCs is insufficient. In this study, biofiltration was
investigated as a VOCs treatment technology. A quantitative structure-activity
relationship (QSAR)-based model for the biofiltration process was developed,
calibrated and tested.
Bioreaction parameters applicable in the design and operation of biofilters,
and modeling of biodegradability of VOCs were established. An ex-situ
biofiltration system was designed and set-up to investigate the capacity of
biofiltration in the removal of m, p-xylene, o-xylene, 1, 3, 5-trimethylbenzene and
1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene (XTMB). The system comprised of a compost bed
biofilter and an aerobic batch reactor, which held petroleum spiked soil matrix as
the source of contaminant VOCs found in petroleum off-gases.
In the laboratory, the biofilter was operated periodically for 4-hours per day
over 39-days. Data was collected for 22 days. Petroleum off-gases represent
volatile organic compounds emitted from various industries. The VOCs mixture
was pumped though the biofilter at four different flow rates that were 11.5, 14.5,
18.0 and 23.8 L/hr. Micro-organisms in the compost beds used the VOCs in the
influent waste gas stream as carbon substrates, consequently degrading them and
reducing their concentration in the effluent stream. Influent and effluent | en |
