Control of VOC emissions from a flexographic printing facility using an industrial biotrickling filter

Water Sci Technol. 2012;65(1):177-82. doi: 10.2166/wst.2011.839.

Abstract

The study of an industrial unit of biotrickling filter for the treatment of the exhaust gases of a flexographic facility was investigated over a 2-year period with the objective to meet the volatile organic compound (VOC) regulatory emission limits. Increasing the water flow rate from 2 to 40 m(3) h(-1) improved the performance of the process, meeting the VOC regulation when 40 m(3) h(-1) were used. An empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 36 s was used when the inlet air temperature was 18.7 °C, and an EBRT as low as 26 s was set when the inlet temperature was 26.8 °C. During this long-term operation, the pressure drop over the column of the bioreactor was completely controlled avoiding clogging problems and the system could perfectly handle the non-working periods without VOC emission, demonstrating its robustness and feasibility to treat the emission of the flexographic sector.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Air Pollution / prevention & control*
  • Bioreactors*
  • Filtration / instrumentation*
  • Pressure
  • Printing*
  • Sewage
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Sewage
  • Volatile Organic Compounds