Kinetic characteristics of n-butyl alcohol and iso-butyl alcohol in a composite bead air biofilter

Kinetic characteristics of n-butyl alcohol and iso-butyl alcohol in a composite bead biofilter were investigated. The microbial growth rate of n-butyl alcohol was greater than that of iso-butyl alcohol in the average inlet concentration range of 50–300 ppm. The microbial growth rate was inhibited at higher inlet concentration, and the inhibitive effect in the concentration range of 50–150 ppm was more pronounced than that in the concentration range of 150–300 ppm. The degree of inhibitive effect for n-butyl alcohol was more sensitive than that for iso-butyl alcohol in the concentration range of 50–150 ppm. The zero-order kinetic with the diffusion rate limitation could be regarded as the most adequate biochemical reaction model. The biodegradation rate of n-butyl alcohol was greater than that of iso-butyl alcohol in the average inlet concentration range of 50–300 ppm. The biochemical reaction rate was also inhibited at higher inlet concentration, and the inhibitive effect for iso-butyl alcohol was more pronounced than that for n-butyl alcohol. The factor of the chemical structure of compound was more predominant in the microbial growth and biochemical reaction processes. The maximum elimination capacity of n-butyl alcohol and iso-butyl alcohol were 55.7 and 34.8 g C h−1 m−3 bed volume, respectively. The compound with no side group in the main chain would be easier biodegraded by the microbial.