Biological treatment of a contaminated gaseous emission containing monochlorobenzene.

This study presents the operation of a biotrickling filter when treating a monochlorobenzene (MCB) contaminated gaseous emission. Treatment dynamics were characterised by exposing the reactor to various MCB Organic Loads (OL). The use of different growth support materials, namely limestone, sand, ceramic and PVC pall-rings, was investigated. Limestone led to dogging of the reactor due to the accumulation of surface precipitates, but PVC pall-rings allowed for a uniform biofilm growth. The biotrickling filter presented maximum removal efficiency (RE, 95%) under OL regimes of 10 g m(-3)-reactor h(-1). Treatment inhibition was observed when the reactor was exposed to OL of 45 g m(-3)-reactor h(-1), with RE reaching a minimum value (8%) and elimination capacity of 8 g m(-3)-reactor h(-1). The first half of the reactor height was the predominant section for MCB biodegradation and increasing the mineral medium recirculation rate was beneficial for the overall treatment.