Stable isotope application to investigate processes of waste gas odour removal by a biofilter

摘要

Stable isotope labelled [~(15)N]trimethylamine ([~(15)N]TMA) was used to study the behaviour of a typical waste gas component in a biofilter model - a 1.5m glass column filled with compost and coke granulate. [~(15)N]TMA-loaded wet air was pumped through the column in a closed cycle for some weeks. In three to five days intervals samples were taken of the filling material at three heights of the column as well as of the air and of removed sprinkling water. As a result of nitrogen and ~(15)N analyses of the samples, kinetic ~(15)N profiles for different heights of the biofilter could be constructed. ~(15)N concentrations in the bacteria mass were always higher than in the corresponding compost material. Therefore, a fast digestion of the TMA by bacteria is proposed.