Utilizing biotrickling filters to reduce water consumption at - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Nebraska Water Center Advisory Board

Utilizing biotrickling filters to reduce water consumption at fermentation and dryer stacks in ethanol plants

Ashraf Aly Hassan, Ph.D., P. E.

Civil Engineering Funding Amount: $20,000 USGS - Cost Share: $40,065 Funding Period: 03/01/2017 - 02/28/2018

Nebraska Water Center Advisory Board

• Examine the potential biodegradation of the major hazardous air pollutants constituents

individually in a biotrickling filter

• Compare the impact of elevated temperature and room temperature on the removal of

hazardous air pollutants

• Evaluate the removal efficiency of representative hazardous air pollutant mixtures in

the biotrickling filter

• Demonstrate biotrickling filter as a viable alternative to water scrubbers

Project Goal & Objective

Minimize water and energy utilization as part of emissions control at ethanol plant by studying the feasibility of biotrickling filters as a green biological alternative.

BTF utilization has the potential of water quantity reduction to 1/20 of that of the scrubber.

Nebraska Water Center Advisory Board

Projects tasks

# Inlet conc., ppmv Temp. BTF Acetaldehyde Formaldehyde Ethanol I A 5

• 20 oC

A B 10

• C

20

• D

30

• E

5

• 50 oC

B F 10

• G

20

• H

30

• II

A

• 5
• 20 oC

A B

• 10
• C
• 20
• D
• 30
• E
• 5
• 50 oC

B F

• 10
• G
• 20
• H
• 30
• III

A 20 20 10 20 oC A B 20 20 20 C 20 20 40 D 20 20 80 E 20 20 10 50 oC B F 20 20 20 G 20 20 40 H 20 20 80

Nebraska Water Center Advisory Board

• Masters student hired
• All parts purchased
• System buildup: In Progress

Project Progress

Nebraska Water Center Advisory Board

• Aly Hassan, A. “Towards more greener ethanol industry: Replacing

scrubbers with biotrickling filters”, presented at the 2017 AEESP Research and Education Conference, held in Ann Arbor, MI, June 20- 22, 2017.

• Ethanol Board: Emerging Issues Forum, will be held in La Vista, NE,

April 2018

• Odors and Air Pollutants 2018 Conference: will be help in Portland,

OR, March 25 – 28, 2018

• AWMA 111th Annual Conference: will be held in Hartland, CT, June

25-28, 2018

Conference Presentation

Nebraska Water Center Advisory Board

Next Research Steps

• The biodegradation of these compounds will need to be optimized in order to

achieve practical EBRT.

• Pilot study, where actual emissions will be evaluated.
• Mixed with numerous compounds
• Fluctuating concentrations.

Future funding targets

• Partnership with ethanol industry (Ethanol Board)
• Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry proposal to NSF:
• CBET – Environmental Sustainability à October 2018
• DOE

Future Funding Plans

Nebraska Water Center Advisory Board

Questions and Discussion