Microbial oxidation of hydrogen sulfide with biofilter

Abstract

A heterotrophic Pseudomonas putida CH11, isolated from the pig feces and wastewater, was immobilized with Ca-alginate to provide as a packing material in a novel and practical biofilter system for the control of hydrogen sulfide. Extensive tests have been conducted to evaluate the effect of the operating parameters such as temperature, retention time, and gas concentration on the removal efficiency of hydrogen sulfide. The criterion for a scale-up design of biofilter was established. The high removal efficiencies of hydrogen sulfide were observed in the initial hours from the history of removal efficiency and a satisfactory level of removal efficiency could maintain for one week at least. The maximum inlet loading in the linear region was found to be 1.9 g-S/d . kg dry bead. At economically viable retention time of 28 seconds, the biofilter could reduce over 97% hydrogen sulfide. The results suggested that the Pseudomonas putida CH11 immobilized with Ca-alginate could be a potential method to remove hydrogen sulfide.