Modelling and computational fluid dynamic behaviour of a biofilter treating benzene

Biofiltration of an air stream containing benzene has been studied in a laboratory biofilter packed with a mixture of compost, sugar cane bagasse and GAC. In this study, the overall performance of a biofilter has been evaluated in terms of its elimination capacity by using 3-D mesh techniques. The overall results indicate that the agreement between experimental data and estimated model predictions is excellent for benzene. The benzene concentration profiles along the depth of biofilter have also been determined using a convection–diffusion reactor (CDR) model and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) technique. At low flow rates and low concentrations of benzene, the concentration profile throughout the biofilter shows good agreement with CDR model and it becomes more curved and resembles typical decay. Combined analysis of experimental results with CDR model and the CFD shows that the profile of benzene at low concentration becomes more curved and then linear at high concentration. The benzene profiles obtained by CFD are within 5% accuracy of experimental results. The CDR and CFD models are found to be able to predict concentration profiles preciously with depth under the experimental conditions.

► Biological method have been applied for removal of contaminated air steam containing benzene.
► Benzene is widely used as a solvent, mainly in paints industries, denatured alcohol and rubber.
► In biofiltration, microbial metabolism of VOCs consists adsorption, diffusion and biodegradation.
► Performance of the biofilter is in terms of the elimination capacity using 3-D mesh techniques.
► The kinetic behaviours, and benzene concentration are analysed by CDR model and CFD technique.