Development of Bictrickling Filters to Treat Sulfur and VOC Emissions

This Phase I SBIR effort involves the feasibility testing of a biological treatment system called a biotrickling filter to treat odorous and noxious air emissions of significance to the Navy. Sources of odors on Naval ships include holding tanks for sewage, garbage, and oily bilge. Sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on ships include holding tanks for hazardous cleaning and de-greasing solvents. Sources of VOCs on shore include paint spray booths and coating operations. Biotrickling filters are similar to conventional scrubbers, but rely on microorganisms growing on the surface of the scrubber packing material to remove and degrade contaminants as a vapor stream passes through the system. The objectives are to: (1) screen microbial cultures for the ability to grow on hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, butyric acid, and propionic acid; (2) discuss on-shore VOC applications with Navy personnel and screen microbial cultures for the ability to grow on four representative VOC contaminants; (3) develop an on-line gas chromatographic method for continuous monitoring of the targets; (4) show that the target compounds can be effectively degraded within bench-scale biotrickling filters using the microbial cultures developed during objectives 1 and 2; and (5) write a final report outlining the results of the Phase I effort.