The paper presents the results of a two-stage pilot plant for the removal of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) from a waste air stream of a refinery wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The pilot plant consisted of a water scrubber followed by a biotrickling filter (BTF). The exhausted air was drawn from the main works of the WWTP in order to prevent the free migration to the atmosphere of these volatile hazardous contaminants. Concentrations were detected at average values of 12.4 mg Nm-3 for benzene, 11.1 mg Nm-3 for toluene, 2.7 mg Nm-3 for ethylbenzene and 9.5 mg Nm-3 for xylene, with considerable fluctuation mainly for benzene and toluene (peak concentrations of 56.8 and 55.0 mg Nm-3, respectively). The two treatment stages proved to play an effective complementary task: the water scrubber demonstrated the ability to remove the concentration peaks, whereas the BTF was effective as a polishing stage. The overall average removal efficiency achieved was 94.8% while the scrubber and BTF elimination capacity were 37.8 and 15.6 g BTEX d-1 m-3, respectively. This result has led to outlet average concentrations of 1.02, 0.25, 0.32 and 0.26 mg Nm-3 for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, respectively. The paper also compares these final concentrations with toxic and odour threshold concentrations.

Experimental treatment of a refinery waste air stream, for BTEX removal, by water scrubbing and biotrickling on a bed of Mitilus edulis shells / Torretta, Vincenzo; Collivignarelli, Maria Cristina; Raboni, Massimo; Viotti, Paolo. - In: ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY. - ISSN 0959-3330. - ELETTRONICO. - 36:18(2015), pp. 2300-2307. [10.1080/09593330.2015.1026289]

Experimental treatment of a refinery waste air stream, for BTEX removal, by water scrubbing and biotrickling on a bed of Mitilus edulis shells

VIOTTI, Paolo
2015

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a two-stage pilot plant for the removal of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) from a waste air stream of a refinery wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The pilot plant consisted of a water scrubber followed by a biotrickling filter (BTF). The exhausted air was drawn from the main works of the WWTP in order to prevent the free migration to the atmosphere of these volatile hazardous contaminants. Concentrations were detected at average values of 12.4 mg Nm-3 for benzene, 11.1 mg Nm-3 for toluene, 2.7 mg Nm-3 for ethylbenzene and 9.5 mg Nm-3 for xylene, with considerable fluctuation mainly for benzene and toluene (peak concentrations of 56.8 and 55.0 mg Nm-3, respectively). The two treatment stages proved to play an effective complementary task: the water scrubber demonstrated the ability to remove the concentration peaks, whereas the BTF was effective as a polishing stage. The overall average removal efficiency achieved was 94.8% while the scrubber and BTF elimination capacity were 37.8 and 15.6 g BTEX d-1 m-3, respectively. This result has led to outlet average concentrations of 1.02, 0.25, 0.32 and 0.26 mg Nm-3 for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, respectively. The paper also compares these final concentrations with toxic and odour threshold concentrations.
2015
air pollution; benzene; biotrickling filter; scrubber; toluene; VOCs; air pollutants; air pollution; animals; benzene; benzene derivatives; biodegradation, environmental; equipment design; filtration; mytilus edulis; toluene; volatile organic compounds; waste disposal, fluid; waste water; xylenes; environmental chemistry; water science and technology; waste management and disposal
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Experimental treatment of a refinery waste air stream, for BTEX removal, by water scrubbing and biotrickling on a bed of Mitilus edulis shells / Torretta, Vincenzo; Collivignarelli, Maria Cristina; Raboni, Massimo; Viotti, Paolo. - In: ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY. - ISSN 0959-3330. - ELETTRONICO. - 36:18(2015), pp. 2300-2307. [10.1080/09593330.2015.1026289]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Torretta_Experimental-treatment_postprint_2015.pdf

accesso aperto

Note: numerazione pagine diversa da versione editoriale
Tipologia: Documento in Post-print (versione successiva alla peer review e accettata per la pubblicazione)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 578.64 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
578.64 kB Adobe PDF
Torretta_Experimental-treatment_2015.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 884.58 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
884.58 kB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/895360
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 0
  • Scopus 13
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 13
social impact