A Novel Integrated Scheme for Treating Hydrophobic Air Contaminants

非甲烷碳氢化合物(NMHC)，通常被称为挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)，由于其对人类和环境的不利影响，一直是一个主要的健康问题。由于其成本效益，生物过滤系统最近已成为控制工业过程中挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)排放的一种有吸引力的选择。然而，生物过滤技术面临着一些挑战。通常，来自工业过程的挥发性有机化合物(VOC)的大多数尾气或处理流具有可变的流量和污染物成分，这限制了生物过滤系统的处理效率。此外，疏水性污染物不容易被生物利用。然而，监管界普遍期望排放控制能够维持适当的处理。为了解决生物过滤系统中的这一限制，将探索一种新的集成技术，通过将两床循环吸附/解吸单元的缓冲能力与滴流床空气生物滤池(TBAB)相结合来实现稳定的污染物去除效率。疏水化合物的生物利用度将通过引入具有双重用途的无毒表面活性剂来提高，增加溶解度并限制过多的生物量增长。该项目的主要目标将是建立吸附和生物过滤相结合的有效性，以产生能够在工业运行的不利条件下符合排放法规的有效处理序列，特别是对于顽固的低溶解度污染物。这项研究的结果有望为在不同负荷条件下有效控制疏水VOCs的创新综合处理方案提供科学和工程基础。预计利用两床循环吸附/解吸装置将TBAB运行中的波动降至最低，将提高生物过滤处理过程的整体效率；节省成本并更一致地遵守排放标准。作为一般类别的额外好处，拟议的去除疏水性VOCs的方案预计将促进显著改进的空气排放控制技术。此外，研究活动将强调在发现中学习，并可用于为本科生和研究生建立好奇心、批判性思维和真正的科学探究方法的文化。参与RET现场项目的7至12年级教师(该项目的PI是CO-PI)将有机会通过预定的工程研讨会和海报论坛在拟议的研究中获得知识，并传达他们在数学和科学教学中获得的知识。此外，这项研究取得的成果将通过在国家和国际会议上的发言以及在同行评议的期刊上发表来传播，以加强对拟议的综合技术的科学和技术了解。

0852803SorialNon-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), usually called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have been a major health concern due to their adverse effects on both human and the environment. Biofiltration systems have recently emerged as an attractive option for controlling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from industrial processes due to its cost effectiveness. However, a number of challenges face biofiltration technology. Typically, most off-gas or treatment streams for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that originate in industrial processes have variable flowrates and contaminant compositions that limit the handling efficiency of the biofiltration system. Furthermore, hydrophobic contaminants are not readily bio-available. Nevertheless, the regulatory community generally expects emission controls to be capable of maintaining adequate treatment. As a solution to this limitation in biofiltration systems, a novel integrated technology will be investigated to achieve stable contaminant removal efficiency by combining the buffering capacity of a two bed cyclic adsorption/desorption unit with a Trickle Bed Air Biofilter (TBAB). The bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds will be enhanced by the introduction of non-toxic surfactants that will serve dual purposes, increasing solubility and limiting excess biomass growth. The primary objective of this project will be to establish the effectiveness of coupling adsorption with biofiltration to yield an efficient treatment train that can comply with emissions regulation during adverse conditions of industrial operation especially for recalcitrant low solubility contaminants. The results of the study are expected to form the scientific and engineering bases for an innovative integrated treatment scheme for effective control of hydrophobic VOCs under varying loading conditions. It is expected that the utilization of the 2- bed cyclic adsorption/desorption unit to minimize fluctuations in the TBAB operation will improve the overall efficiency of the biofiltration treatment process; provide cost savings and more consistent emission compliance. As a general class of additional benefits, the proposed scheme for removal of hydrophobic VOCs is expected to promote significantly improved air emission control technologies. Furthermore, the research activities will emphasize learning through discovery and can be used to establish a culture of curiosity, critical thinking, and an authentic scientific method of inquiry for both undergraduate and graduate students. The 7th to 12th grade teachers involved in the RET site project (in which the PI of this project is a CO-PI) will have the opportunity to gain knowledge in the proposed research through scheduled Engineering Seminars and poster forums and convey the knowledge gained in their teachings of math and science. Furthermore, the results obtained in this study will be disseminated by presentations at national and international conferences and by publication in peer refereed journals for enhancing scientific and technological understanding of the proposed integrated technology.