Application of multi-stage biofilter pilot plants to remove odor and VOCs from industrial activities air emissions

This study includes trials that were conducted to evaluate the performances of two biofiltration pilot plants for industrial applications. The first experimentation analyzed the removal of high concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from discontinuous gas emissions resulting from the flexographic printing section of a plastic packaging production factory. The adopted layout for the experimentation was a multi-stage plant filled with two different packing materials (shells and peat). The second trial examined the biofiltration of exhaust air from a Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) drying process treating the dry fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW). Such exhaust streams are characterized by low VOCs content but high odorous compounds, such as H2S and NH3. The pilot plant used for the experimentation had two stages that used shells as packing material. In both cases, the multi-stage biofilter performances indicate that the solutions are suitable as well as applicable for use in industrial plants.