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Performance study of a bio-trickling filter to remove high hydrogen sulfide concentration from biogas: a pilot-scale experiment

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Abstract

Biological process is getting more popular to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from biogas. However, many challenges are yet to be addressed to make it more economically viable and environmentally friendlier. In this study, a 5-m3 bio-filter was packed with a propylene carrier with a packed-bed volume of 2.3 m3, and fed with biogas at a flow rate of 42.2 ± 2.2 m3 h−1 with an average inlet H2S of 3412 ppmv. Oxygen from air was fed and used as the final electron acceptor. Digestate was recirculated into the bio-filter as nutrient for the microbial population, while hot water was mixed with the trickled water to maintain the inside temperature around 32°C. The average H2S removal efficiency (RE) was 97%. RE was increased with temperature and sulfide concentration, while the opposite was observed at a pH between 3.23 and 1.77. A maximum H2S elimination capacity (EC) of 95.60 g m−3 h−1 was observed. The kinetic modeling study showed that EC was fitted better with Haldane model than Michaelis–Menten model, indicating the presence of inhibition during the biological treatment of high H2S. The microbial community analysis showed the predominance of Acidithiobacillus caldus, which is an extremely acidophilic bacterium and grows at a moderate thermophilic temperature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada, Kobe,, 657-8501, Japan

    Fetra J. Andriamanohiarisoamanana & Ikko Ihara

  2. Airwater Co. Ltd, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 003-0027, Japan

    Seiichi Yasui

  3. Graduate School of Animal and Food Hygiene, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, 080-8555, Japan

    Masahiro Iwasaki, Takaki Yamashiro & Kazutaka Umetsu

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  1. Fetra J. Andriamanohiarisoamanana
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Andriamanohiarisoamanana, F.J., Yasui, S., Iwasaki, M. et al. Performance study of a bio-trickling filter to remove high hydrogen sulfide concentration from biogas: a pilot-scale experiment. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 22, 1390–1398 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-020-01031-4

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