Purification of waste gas containing high concentration trimethylamine in biotrickling filter inoculated with B350 mixed microorganisms

A biotrickling filter packed with ceramic particles and seeded with B350 microorganisms was applied to remove trimethylamine (TMA) from gaseous waste. A 100% removal efficiency (RE) was obtained when the empty bed residence time (EBRT) was larger than 110 s at an inlet concentration of 0.30 mg/L. Maximum elimination capacity (EC) was 13.13 g m−3 h−1 (RE = 64.7%) at 55 s of EBRT. TMA concentrations <0.20 mg/L at 83 s of EBRT did not affect the REs (100%). Maximum EC was 13.95 g m−3 h−1 (RE = 78.1%) at a TMA concentration of 0.42 mg/L. Approximately 53.1% of the carbon in TMA was completely mineralized. Bacterial community analysis in the bioreactor revealed more than 21 species in a stable state. Based on all these results, biotrickling filter inoculated with B350 microorganisms is deemed highly capable of ridding waste gas of TMA.

► High concentration gaseous TMA was treated by biotrickling filter seeded with B350.
► Parameters affecting the removal efficiency were investigated in detail.
► Relationship between the production CO2 and elimination capacity was studied.
► Nitrogen metabolite in TMA were investigated.
► Bacterial community in the bioreactor for TMA treatment was detected by PCR-DGGE.