Performance and microbial analysis of defined and non-defined inocula for the removal of dimethyl sulfide in a biotrickling filter

The performance and microbial communities of three differently inoculated biotrickling filters removing dimethyl sulfide (DMS) were compared. The biotrickling filters were inoculated with Thiobacillus thioparus TK-m (THIO), sludge (HANDS) and sludge + T. thioparus TK-m + Hyphomicrobium VS (HANDS++), respectively. The criteria investigated were length of the start-up period, the maximum elimination capacity, and the effects of intermittent loading rates, low pH, peak loading and very low loading rate on the DMS removal efficiency. The HANDS++ reactor exhibited the best performance considering all treatments. HANDS performed almost equally well as HANDS++, except during the determination of the EC(max), while THIO was generally the least efficient. During stable DMS loading at concentrations of 20 ppmv or lower, all reactors exhibited similar and high removal efficiencies (>99%). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis showed the establishment of T. thioparus in the biofilm of all reactors, but not of Hyphomicrobium VS. Quantitative monitoring of the introduced bacterial strains was performed with a newly developed real-time PCR protocol. Initially, the inoculated strains were exclusively found in the reactors in which they were added. Afterwards, however, both strains developed in the biofilm of all three reactors, although T. thioparus attained higher cell densities than Hyphomicrobium. The presence of T. thioparus in THIO was related with the DMS loading rates that were applied, in the sense that intermittent DMS loading and very low DMS loading rates (0.5 ppmv) induced a decrease in gene copy numbers. Real-time PCR and DGGE both gave consistent results regarding the presence of Hyphomicrobium VS and Thiobacillus thioparus TK-m in the reactors. Only real-time PCR could be used to detect bacteria comprising of less than 1.4% of the total bacterial community ( approximately 10(5) copies ring(-1)).     

Effects of pH, CO2, and flow pattern on the autotrophic degradation of hydrogen sulfide in a biotrickling filter

In this study, the effects of pH, CO(2), and flow pattern on the performance of a biotrickling filter (BTF) packed with plastic Pall rings and treating a H(2)S-polluted waste gas were investigated to establish the optimum operating conditions and design criteria. The CO(2) concentration had no effect on the biodegradation at H(2)S concentrations below 50 ppm. In the range of 50-127 ppm H(2)S, CO(2) concentrations between 865 and 1,087 ppm enhanced H(2)S removal, while higher concentrations of 1,309-4,009 ppm CO(2) slightly inhibited H(2)S removal. The co-current flow BTF presented the advantage of a more uniform H(2)S removal and biomass growth in each section than the counter-current flow BTF. Examination of the pH-effect in the range of pH 2.00-7.00 revealed optimal activity for autotrophs at pH 6.00. Under optimal conditions, the elimination capacity reached 31.12 g H(2)S/m(3)/h with a removal efficiency exceeding 97%. In the present research, autotrophic biomass was developed in the BTF, performing both a partial oxidization of H(2)S to elemental sulfur and a complete oxidization to sulfate, which is favorable from an environmental point of view. Results showed that around 60% of the sulfide concentration fed to the reactor was transformed into sulfate. Such autotrophic trickling filters may present other advantages, including the fact that they do not release any CO(2) to the atmosphere. Besides, the limited growth of autotrophs avoids potential clogging problems. Experimental performance data were compared with data from a mathematical model. Comparisons showed that the theoretical model was successful in predicting the performance of the biotrickling filter.     

Ozone and hydrogen peroxide as strategies to control biomass in a trickling filter to treat methanol and hydrogen sulfide under acidic conditions

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - The operation and performance of a biotrickling filter for methanol (MeOH) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) removal at acid pH was studied. Excess biomass in the...     

Treatment of H2S using a horizontal biotrickling filter based on biological activated carbon: reactor setup and performance evaluation

Biological treatment is an emerging and prevalent technology for treating off-gases from wastewater treatment plants. The most commonly reported odorous compound in off-gases is hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which has a very low odor threshold. A self-designed, bench-scale, cross-flow horizontal biotrickling filter (HBF) operated with bacteria immobilized activated carbon (termed biological activated carbon—BAC), was applied for the treatment of H₂S. A mixed culture of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria dominated by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans acclimated from activated sludge was used as bacterial seed and the biofilm was developed by culturing the bacteria in the presence of carbon pellets in mineral medium. HBF performance was evaluated systematically over 120 days, depending on a series of changing factors including inlet H₂S concentration, gas retention time (GRT), pH of recirculation solution, upset and recovery, sulfate accumulation, pressure drop, gas-liquid ratio, and shock loading. The biotrickling filter system can operate at high efficiency from the first day of operation. At a volumetric loading of 900 m³ m^–3 h^–1 (at 92 ppmv H₂S inlet concentration), the BAC exhibited maximum elimination capacity (113 g H₂S/m^–3 h^–1) and a removal efficiency of 96% was observed. If the inlet concentration was kept at around 20 ppmv, high H₂S removal (over 98%) was achieved at a GRT of 4 s, a value comparable with those currently reported for biotrickling filters. The bacterial population in the acidic biofilter demonstrated capacity for removal of H₂S over a broad pH range (pH 1–7). A preliminary investigation into the different effects of bacterial biodegradation and carbon adsorption on system performance was also conducted. This study shows the HBF to be a feasible and economic alternative to physical and chemical treatments for the removal of H₂S.     

The microbial community in a moving bed biotrickling filter operated to remove hydrogen sulfide from gas streams

The information available on the microbial communities responsible for pollutant degradation is increasingly accessible. Its use to optimize process design and operation is an important challenge in the field of effluent treatment research. Therefore, a prototype of a moving bed biotrickling filter (MBBTF) reactor was designed and, for the first time, operated at full-scale for the removal of sulfides desorbing from tannery industrial wastewater. The bacterial community operating in this innovative reactor was studied, and its composition and response to different operating conditions were characterized. A stable biomass, dominated by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Acidithiobacillus was selected from inside the MBBTF reactor, and temperature, pH and bed rotation were shown to be the main factors driving the community structure. Moreover, data from different approaches indicated an uneven spatial distribution of biofilm inside the studied reactor, due to the combined effect of fluid dynamics and substrate gradients within the bed volume. Despite the high removal efficiency achieved by this innovative prototype (80% on average), the data suggested that the result could be improved by adopting solutions for a more stable and even biofilm distribution. It was shown that short frequent bed rotations, rather than long scattered rotations, ensured biomass stability. Furthermore, diversifying biofilm support media as a function of expected local pollutant concentrations should be considered. Data obtained from the bacterial community can therefore provide indications for possible further improvement of MBBTF reactor design and performance.     

Removal of hydrogen sulfide by immobilized Thiobacillus thioparus in a biotrickling filter packed with polyurethane foam

In the work described here, a biotrickling filter with Thiobacillus thioparus (ATCC 23645) immobilized on polyurethane foam is proposed for the removal of hydrogen sulfide contained in air. The effect of surface velocity of the recirculation medium (5.9–1.2 m/h), sulfate concentration inhibition (3.0–10.7 g/L), pH (6.0–8.2), empty bed residence time (EBRT) (150–11 s) for constant loads of 11.5 and 2.9 g S/m³/h, and pressure drop of the system were investigated.     

Investigation on the mechanism of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S removal by biological activated carbon in a horizontal biotrickling filter

The use of supporting media for the immobilization of microorganisms is widely known to provide a surface for microbial growth and a shelter that protects the microorganisms from inhibitory compounds. In our previous studies, activated carbon (AC) alone used as a support medium for H₂S biological removal was proved prompt and efficient in a bench-scale biofilter and biotrickling filter. In this study, the mechanisms of H₂S elimination using microbial immobilized activated carbon, i.e., biological activated carbon (BAC), are investigated. A series of BAC as supporting medium were taken from the inlet to outlet of a bench-scale horizontal biotrickling filter to examine the different effects of physical/chemical adsorption and microbial degradation on the overall removal of H₂S. The surface properties of BAC together with virgin and exhausted carbon (after H₂S breakthrough test, non-microbial immobilization) were characterized using the sorption of nitrogen (Braunner–Emmett–Teller test), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface pH, thermal, carbon–hydrogen–nitrogen–sulfur (CHNS) elemental and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. Tests of porosity and surface area provide detailed information about the pore structure of BAC along the bed facilitating the understanding of potential pore blockages due to biofilm coating. A correlation between the available surface area and pore volume with the extent of microbial immobilization and H₂S uptake is evidenced. SEM photographs show the direct carbon structure and biofilm coated on carbon surface. FTIR spectra, differential thermogravimetric curves and CHNS results indicate less diversity of H₂S oxidation products on BAC than those previously observed on exhausted carbon from H₂S adsorption only. The predominant oxidation product on BAC is sulfuric acid, and biofilm is believed to enhance the oxidation of H₂S on carbon surface. The combination of biodegradation and physical adsorption of using BAC in removal of H₂S could lead to a long-term (i.e., years) good performance of biotrickling filters and biofilters based on BAC compared to carbon adsorption only.     

废气处理生物滤器微生物生态学研究进展

废气生物处理是一项新兴的气体污染控制技术,已成为当前环境领域的研究热点.本文概述了生物滤器系统(包括生物过滤器系统和生物滴滤器系统)结构及其去除气体污染物的原理,重点阐述了生物滤器微生物的分离、鉴定及其降解特性,微生物丰度、活性与微生物群落结构多样性之间的相关性,运行条件对微生物群落的影响,微生物群落结构时空变化规律,生物膜形成机理和模型等方面的研究进展,并对今后废气处理生物滤器微生物生态学研究方向进行了展望.     

Isobutyraldehyde as a competitor of the dimethyl sulfide degrading activity in biofilters

Upon inoculation with Hyphomicrobium MS3, theelimination capacity of a lab-scale biofilter for theodorant dimethyl sulfide (Me₂S) can be stronglyincreased from less than 10 to more than 35 and 1000 gm^-3d^-1 using wood bark and compost as acarrier material, respectively. However, uponsupplementation of isobutyraldehyde (IBA) as a secondgaseous substrate, sequential degradation profiles of IBAand Me₂S in physically separated sections wereobserved in the Hyphomicrobium MS3-inoculatedwood bark and compost biofilters. Contrary to this, thebiofiltration efficiency for Me₂S remainedunaffected upon the supplementation of toluene as asecond gaseous substrate. Batch experiments with theliquid Hyphomicrobium MS3 culture confirmed thecompetitive effect of IBA on the Me₂S degradingactivity: in the presence of both compounds, Hyphomicrobium MS3 preferred degradation of thecarbonyl compound. In technical terms, this means thatthe complete purification of a waste gas stream containingboth IBA and Me₂S should be performed usingsufficiently high or bistage HyphomicrobiumMS3-inoculated biofilters. Design criteria have to beconceived in this respect.     

Monitoring of oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis in a unicyanobacterial biofilm, grown in benthic gradient chamber

In order to assess the role of cyanobacteria in the formation and dynamics of microenvironments in microbial mats, we studied an experimental biofilm of a benthic, halotolerant strain, belonging to the Halothece cluster of cyanobacteria. The 12-week-old biofilm developed in a sand core incubated in a benthic gradient chamber under opposing oxygen and sulfide vertical concentration gradients. At the biofilm surface, and as a response to high light irradiances, specific accumulation of myxoxanthophyll was detected in the cells, consistent with the typical vertical distribution of sun versus shade species in nature. The oxygen turn-over in terms of gross photosynthesis and net productivity rates was comparable to oxygen dynamics in natural microbial mats. Sulfide blocked O(2) production at low irradiances in deep biofilm layers but the dynamics of H(2)S and pH demonstrated that sulfide removal by anoxygenic photosynthesis was taking place. At higher irradiances, as soon as H(2)S was depleted, the cells switched to oxygenic photosynthesis as has been postulated for natural communities. The similarities between this experimental biofilm and natural benthic microbial mats demonstrate the central role of cyanobacteria in shaping microenvironmental gradients and processes in other complex microbial communities.     

Long-term microbial community dynamics at two full-scale biotrickling filters treating pig house exhaust air

In this study, the microbial community structure of two full-scale biotrickling filters treating exhaust air from a pig housing facility were evaluated using 16S metabarcoding. The effect of inoculation with activated sludge of a nearby domestic waste water treatment plant was investigated, which is a cheap procedure and easy to apply in practice. The study was performed at a three-stage and a two-stage full-scale biotrickling filter; of which, only the latter was inoculated. Both biotrickling filters evolved towards a rather similar community over time, which differed from the one in the activated sludge used for inoculation. However, the bacterial population at both biotrickling filters showed small differences on the family level. A large population of heterotrophic bacteria, including denitrifying bacteria, was present in both biotrickling filters. In the non-inoculated biotrickling filter, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) could not be detected, which corresponded with the incomplete nitrification leading to high nitrite accumulation observed in this system. Inoculation with the wide spectrum inoculum activated sludge had in this study a positive effect on the biotrickling filter performance (higher ammonia removal and lower nitrous oxide production). It could thus be beneficial to inoculate biotrickling filters in order to enrich NOB at the start-up, making it easier to keep the free nitrous acid concentration low enough to not be inhibited by it.     

Performance of a substratum-irradiated photosynthetic biofilm reactor for the removal of sulfide from wastewater

The performance of a sulfide-removal system based on biofilms dominated by green sulfur bacteria (GSB) has been investigated. The system was supplied with radiant energy in the band 720-780 nm, and fed with a synthetic wastewater. The areal net sulfide removal rate and the efficacy of the incident radiant energy for sulfide removal have been characterized over ranges of bulk sulfide concentration (1.6-11.5 mg L(-1)) and incident irradiance (0.21-1.51 W m(-2)). The areal net sulfide removal rate increased monotonically with both increasing incident irradiance and increasing bulk sulfide concentration. The efficacy of the radiant energy for sulfide removal (the amount of sulfide removed per unit energy supplied) also increased monotonically with rising bulk sulfide concentration, but exhibited a maximum value with respect to incident irradiance. The maximum observed values of this net removal rate and this efficacy were, respectively, 2.08 g m(-2) d(-1) and 2.04 g W(-1) d(-1). In-band changes in the spectral composition of the radiant energy affected this efficacy only slightly. The products of sulfide removal were sulfate and elemental-S. The elemental-S was scarcely released into the liquid, however, and reasons for this, such as sulfur reduction and polysulfide formation, are considered. Between 1.45 and 3.85 photons were needed for the net removal of one electron from S-species. Intact samples of the biofilm were characterized by microscopy, and their thicknesses lay between 39 +/- 9 and 429 +/- 57 microm. The use of the experimentally determined rates and efficacies for the design of a pilot-scale system is illustrated.     

H2S gas biological removal efficiency and bacterial community diversity in biofilter treating wastewater odor

The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a biofilter system to treat hydrogen sulfide (H2S) contaminated air and to characterize its microbial community. The biofilter system was packed with peat. During the experimental work, the peat was divided in three layers (down, middle, and up). Satisfactory removal efficiencies of H2S were proved and reached 99% for the majority of the run time at an empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 60 s. The polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method was used to uncover the changes in the microbial community between the different layers. Analysis of SSCP profiles demonstrated significant differences in community structure from a layer to another with a strong decrease in species diversity towards the up layer. It was found that the used support was suitable for microorganism growth, and may have a potential application in H2S biofiltration system.     

Transient-state biodegradation behavior of a horizontal biotrickling filter in co-treating gaseous H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S and NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>

A horizontal biotrickling filter (HBTF) was used to inoculate autotrophic sulfide-oxidizing and ammonia-oxidizing microbial consortiums over H₂S-exhausted carbon for co-treating H₂S and NH₃ waste gas in a long-term operation. In this study, several aspects (i.e., pH change, shock loading and starvation) of the dynamic behavior of the HBTF were investigated. The metabolic products of N and S bearing species in recycling liquid and biological activities of the biofilm were analyzed to explain the observed phenomena and further explore the fundamentals behind. In the pH range of 4–8.5, although the removal efficiencies of H₂S and NH₃ remained 96–98% and 100%, respectively, the metabolic products demonstrated different removal mechanisms and pathways. NH₄-N and NO₂/NO₃-N were dominated at pH ≤6 and ≥7, respectively, indicating the differentiated contributions from physical/chemical adsorption and bio-oxidation. Moreover, the HBTF demonstrated a good dynamic stability to withstand shock loadings by recovering immediately to the original. During shock loading, only 15.4% and 17.9% of captured H₂S and NH₃ was biodegraded, respectively. After 2, 11, and 48 days of starvation, the HBTF system reached a full performance within reasonable re-startup times (2–80 h), possibly due to the consumption of reduced S and N species in biomass or activated carbon thus converted into SO₄-S and NO₃-N during starvation period. The results helped to understand the fundamental knowledge by revealing the effects of pH and transient loadings linked with individual removal mechanism for H₂S and NH₃ co-treatment in different conditions.     

Effects of acetate and propionate on the performance of a photosynthetic biofilm reactor for sulfide removal

The effects of acetate and propionate on the performance of a recently proposed and characterized photosynthetic biological sulfide removal system have been investigated with a view to predicting this concept's suitability for removing sulfide from wastewater undergoing or having undergone anaerobic treatment. The concept relies on substratum-irradiated biofilms dominated by green sulfur bacteria (GSB), which are supplied with radiant energy in the band 720-780 nm. A model reactor was fed for 7 months with a synthetic wastewater free of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), after which time intermittent dosing of the wastewater with acetate or propionate was begun. Such dosing suppressed the areal net sulfide removal rate by approximately 50%, and caused the principal net product of sulfide removal to switch from sulfate to elemental-S. Similarly suppressed values of this rate were observed when the wastewater was dosed continuously with acetate, and this rate was not significantly affected by changes in the concentration of ammonia-N in the feed. The main net product of sulfide removal was again elemental-S, which was scarcely released into the liquid, however. Sulfate reduction and sulfur reduction were observed when the light supply was interrupted and were inferred to be occurring within the irradiated biofilm. A preexisting conceptual model of the biofilm was augmented with both of these reductive processes, and this augmented model was shown to account for most of the observed effects of VFA dosing. The implications of these findings for the practicality of the technology are considered.     

Enhanced removal of dimethyl sulfide from a synthetic waste gas stream using a bioreactor inoculated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microbacterium</Emphasis> sp. NTUT26 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas putida</Emphasis>

The removal of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) from industrial gas streams has received a high priority due to its very low odorous threshold value and relatively low biodegradability compared to other reduced sulfur compounds. A variety of bacteria that utilize DMS as a carbon/energy source have been studied and the degradation pathway elucidated. However, to date, there have been few reports on the industrial application of such bacteria inoculated into a bioreactor for DMS treatment. An additional problem of such systems is the accumulation of intermediate metabolites that strongly impact on DMS removal by the microbe. The results reported here were obtained using a bioreactor inoculated with the H(2)S-degrader Pseudomonas putida and the DMS-degrader Microbacterium sp. NTUT26 to facilitate removal of metabolic intermediates and DMS. This bioreactor performed well (1.71 g-S/day/kg-dry packing material) in terms of DMS gas removal, based on an evaluation of the apparent kinetics and maximal removal capacity of the system. Under varying conditions (changes in start-up, inlet loading, shutdown, and re-start), the bioreactor inoculated with Microbacterium sp. NTUT26 and P. putida enhanced removal of high concentrations of DMS. Our results suggest that this type of bioreactor system has significant potential applications in treating (industrial) DMS gas streams.     

包埋法固定化对硫氧化微生物菌群结构和功能的影响

【目的】为探讨包埋法固定化过程对硫氧化菌群硫化物去除能力及菌群微生物群落结构的影响,【方法】以聚乙烯醇-海藻酸钠-活性炭为载体,对硫氧化菌群进行了固定化,并采用富含硫化物的无机盐培养基,对比固定化与非固定化硫氧化菌群对硫化物的氧化去除能力。同时,利用PCR-DGGE技术,探讨硫氧化菌群在固定化前后以及在硫化物氧化去除过程中微生物群落结构变化。【结果】在对硫氧化菌群进行固定化之后,12 h之内对硫化物的最大去除能力从1000 mg/L下降为600 mg/L。硫氧化菌群的微生物群落结构发生了明显变化,但菌群中的硫氧化菌Catenococcus thiocycli未受影响,硫氧化菌Thioclava pacifica在菌群中的地位反而得到了强化。【结论】受制于底物在载体材料中的扩散迁移效率,硫氧化菌群对硫化物的氧化去除能力在固定化之后有所下降。由于不同微生物对固定化形成的微环境的适应能力以及对载体附着能力的不同,固定化对硫氧化菌群的微生物群落结构产生较大影响。     

Population dynamics of free-floating and attached bacteria in a styrene-degrading biotrickling filter analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

Population dynamics was studied in a 52-l biotrickling filter (BTF) operated for 182 days and used to clean air contaminated with styrene vapors. In the BTF, biomass grew either as free-floating (planktonic) or attached (sessile) microorganisms. PCR-amplified 16S rDNA fragments from planktonic and sessile cells within the bioreactor were analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The results indicated that the complexity of biofilm community was always more pronounced than the complexity of the planktonic cell community. Notably, Rhodococcus erythropolis was identified, based on DNA sequence analysis, as one of the biofilm-specific strains. It was also shown that the inoculum, even when enriched with styrene-degrading bacteria, was not adapted to the growth conditions imposed by the BTF. After a 35-day microbial acclimation period, the DGGE analysis also showed less variation in the banding pattern representing the microbial complexity of the biofilm. In addition, the phylogenic fingerprinting method used demonstrated similar banding profiles in the biofilm along the filter bed. Electronic Publication     

Mechanistic study of microbial control of hydrogen sulfide production in oil reservoirs.

Microbial control of biogenic production of hydrogen sulfide in oil fields was studied in a model system consisting of pure cultures of the nitrate-reducing, sulfide-oxidizing bacterium (NR-SOB) Thiomicrospira sp. strain CVO and the sulfate-reducing bacterium (SRB) Desulfovibrio sp. strain Lac6, as well as in microbial cultures enriched from produced water of a Canadian oil reservoir. The presence of nitrate at concentrations up to 20 mM had little effect on the rate of sulfate reduction by a pure culture of Lac6. Addition of CVO imposed a strong inhibition effect on production of sulfide. In the absence of added nitrate SRB we were able to overcome this effect after an extended lag phase. Simultaneous addition of CVO and nitrate stopped the production of H2S immediately. The concentration of sulfide decreased to a negligible level due to nitrate-dependent sulfide oxidation activity of CVO. This was not prevented by raising the concentration of Na-lactate, the electron donor for sulfate reduction. Similar results were obtained with enrichment cultures. Enrichments of produced water with sulfide and nitrate were dominated by CVO, whereas enrichments with sulfate and Na-lactate were dominated by SRB. Addition of an NR-SOB enrichment to an SRB enrichment inhibited the production of sulfide. Subsequent addition of sufficient nitrate caused the sulfide concentration to drop to zero. A similar response was seen in the presence of nitrate alone, although after a pronounced lag time, it was needed for emergence of a sizable CVO population. The results of the present study show that two mechanisms are involved in microbial control of biogenic sulfide production. First, addition of NR-SOB imposes an inhibition effect, possibly by increasing the environmental redox potential to levels which are inhibitory for SRB. Second, in the presence of sufficient nitrate, NR-SOB oxidize sulfide, leading to its complete removal from the environment. Successful microbial control of H2S in an oil reservoir is crucially dependent on the simultaneous presence of NR-SOB (either indigenous population or injected) and nitrate in the environment.     

Removal of high concentration of NH3 and coexistent H2S by biological activated carbon (BAC) biotrickling filter

High efficiency of NH3 and H2S removal from waste gases was achieved by the biotrickling filter. Granular activated carbon (GAC), inoculated with Arthrobacter oxydans CH8 for NH3 removal and Pseudomonas putida CH11 for H2S removal, was used as packing material. Under conditions in which 100% H2S was removed, extensive tests to eliminate high concentrations of NH3 emission-including removal characteristics, removal efficiency, and removal capacity of the system-were performed. The results of the Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) experiment suggested that physical adsorption of NH3 gas by GAC was responsible for the first 10 days, after which NH3 gas was biodegraded by inoculated microorganisms. The dynamic steady state between physical adsorption and biodegradation was about two weeks. After the system achieved equilibrium, the BAC biotrickling filter exhibited high adaptation to shock loading, elevated temperature, and flow rate. Greater than 96% removal efficiency for NH3 was achieved during the 140-day operating period when inlet H2S loading was maintained at 6.25 g-S/m3/h. During the operating period, the pH varied between 6.5 and 8.0 after the physical adsorption stage, and no acidification or alkalinity was observed. The results also demonstrated that NH3 removal was not affected by the coexistence of H2S while gas retention time was the key factor in system performance. The retention time of at least 65 s is required to obtain a greater than 95% NH3 removal efficiency. The critical loading of NH3 for the system was 4.2 g-N/m3/h, and the maximal loading was 16.2 g-N/m3/h. The results of this study could be used as a guide for further design and operation of industrial-scale systems.