Dr Rajamohan Natarajan is a chemical engineering Professor who did his doctorate in Chemical engineering. He is an active researched working in fields like Biotechnology for air pollution control, Bioreactor modeling and Heavy metal pollution control. He is currently handling a major research project on Air pollution control funded by the government funding agency. He has completed major research projects funded by leading national funding bodies in India. He has published 56 papers in various international journals and is an industrial consultant. He is an editorial board member with various reputed journals.
Presentation Title
Effect of Operating Parameters on the Performance of a Biofilter Utilizing a Novel Filter Media for the Treatment of Ethylbenzene - Toluene Mixture
Abstract
In this research study, continuous experiments were performed in a biofilter to investigate the effect of inlet pollutant concentration of ethylbenzene-toluene mixture and gas flow rate on the removal efficiency. The effect of inlet loading rates was studied in the range of 25- 408 g/m3 h. The elimination capacity varied linearly with inlet loading rates and the maximum removal efficiency of 88% was achieved with an inlet ethyl benzene concentration of 1.0 g/m3 and 97% was achieved with an inlet toluene concentration of 1.5 g/m3 at an EBRT of 4.7 min. Temperature monitoring confirmed the heat release during the biodegradation reaction. The carbon di oxide production rate was dependent on elimination capacity and the theoretical yield co-efficient was 3.10. Biomass growth studies indicated better biofilm formation in the lowest part of the biofilter.