Biofilters and Biotrickling Filters
Biological treatment of odorous air — low chemical cost, butsensitive to moisture and loading.
Biofilters pass foul air through a moist organic or inorganic media bed colonized by odor-degrading bacteria — the bacteria consume H2S and other odorous compounds as a food source.
Media moisture is critical — biofilter performance collapses if the media dries out; drip or spray irrigation of the bed maintains moisture.
Empty bed contact time (EBCT) is the key design parameter — 30-60 seconds is typical for biofilters; shorter contact times require biotrickling filters with more active media.
Biotrickling filters (recirculated liquid phase over inert media) handle higher H2S loading than traditional biofilters and have largely replaced them at moderate-to-high H2S loads.
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