Odour abatement of palm oil mill effluent using woodchips-based biofilter with the presence of paracoccus solventivorans

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Date
2018-06
Authors
Eiman Hakim Bin Muhamad Razali
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Biofiltration is a biological odour treatment method that consists of microorganism with the ability of breaking down the odorous compound which will reduce the odour concentration flowing out of the system. The study was conducted to determine the effect of immobilizing Paracoccus Solventivorans into woodchip media towards the reduction of hydrogen sulphide concentration and also strength of odour. Palm oil mill effluent was used as the treated sample as it has high concentration of Hydrogen Sulphide. In this research, lab scale closed-bed biofilter reactor were used. The reactor are created using two identical columns with 10.6 cm diameter and 48 cm height. The data collection were done by collecting the gas at the inlet and outlet of the reactor before analysing its strength and compound. The parameters related to the biofilter performance were also monitored to identify the relationship between medium depth and pressure drop. The medium depth used were 150 mm and also 350 mm. The empty bed residence time were fixed according to the empty bed residence volume. The moisture content of the media were kept constant in the range of 60% to 65%. The 150mm bacteria-immobilized woodchip shows better result in many tested parameters compared to 150mm control woodchip and also 350mm raw and bacteria-immobilized woodchip. The odour strength removal efficiency results for 150mm bacteria-immobilized woodchip is 63% while its removal efficiency for hydrogen sulphide and ammonia are 59% and 34%, respectively. Although the removal efficiency is lower than 350mm bacteria-immobilized woodchip, but it generates lower pressure drop which in turn will contribute to better biofilter longevity. This research would open a new door towards the use of Paracoccus Solventivorans and also help in reducing the generation of nuisance odour from palm oil factories.
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