Effect of biofilm growth on the gas-liquid mass transfer in a trickling filter for waste gas treatment

The overall liquid mass transfer coefficient (KLa) in a trickling filter for treatment of toluene-containing waste gas was studied. Estimation of KLa was performed by the non-biodegradable compound methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE). The KLa-value found for the biofilm system was 25–140% larger than for the support material without biofilm. This may result from improved wetting of the filter surface area and consequently by an enlarged mass transfer area.