Biofiltration of Wastewater Gas Emissions to Remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Yousef Jalali

Retired Senior Engineer, LA County Sanitation Districts. USA.

10.22067/jacsm.2026.96404.1382

Abstract

From 1993 to 1995, pilot tests evaluated conventional and modified biofilters for scrubbing odorous gases and VOCs from municipal wastewater. The conventional biofilters (0.92 m depth) removed over 95% of hydrogen sulfide and 65-90% of hydrocarbons like benzene, but were ineffective against halogenated compounds like chloroform. A modified version, featuring a submerged water layer at the bottom and an increased total depth of 1.52 m, significantly enhanced performance. This system removed over 90% of benzene, toluene, and xylene, and achieved around 75% average removal of previously persistent compounds like chloroform and trichloroethylene. The key mechanism was the creation of an anaerobic environment in the aqueous layer, which complemented the aerobic upper layer. This fostered a more diverse microbial community and a wider spectrum of metabolic pathways, enabling more effective breakdown of a broader range of pollutants. The modified design also reduced the microbial acclimation time and improved operational consistency, demonstrating superior overall treatment capability for complex VOC mixtures.

Keywords

Biofilter

Biofiltration

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Municipal Wastewater

Modified Biofilter

Odor Removal

Microbial Community

Aqueous Reactor

Anaerobic Conditions

Pollutant Degradation

Subjects

• Renewable energy

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