Treatment of waste gas from the breather vent of a vertical fixed roof p-xylene storage tank by a trickle-bed air biofilter

This study applied a pilot-scale trickle-bed air biofilter (TBAB) system for treating waste gas emitted from the breather vent of a vertical fixed roof storage tank containing p-xylene (p-X) liquid. The volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration of the waste gas was related to ambient temperature as well as solar radiation, peaking at above 6300 ppmv of p-X and 25000 ppmv of total hydrocarbons during the hours of 8 AM to 3 PM. When the activated carbon adsorber was employed as a VOC buffer, the peak waste gas VOC concentration was significantly reduced resulting in a stably and efficiently performing TBAB system. The pressure drop appeared to be low, reflecting that the TBAB system could be employed in the prolonged operation with a low running penalty. These advantages suggest that the TBAB system is a cost-effective treatment technology for VOC emission from a fixed roof storage tank.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► VOC emission of storage tank is related to ambient temperature, solar radiation and daily ambient temperature range. ► More than 95% removals are obtained at the designed VOC load of TBAB system. ► Activated carbon can buffer inlet VOC load at peak emission of storage tank. ► The TBAB system is a cost-effective VOC control technology of storage tank.