Biodegradation kinetic behaviors of n-butyl alcohol and sec-butyl alcohol in a composite bead biofilter

Biodegradation kinetic behaviors of n-butyl alcohol and sec-butyl alcohol in a composite bead biofilter were investigated. The microbial growth rate of n-butyl alcohol was greater than that of sec-butyl alcohol in the inlet concentration range of 50–300 ppm. The microbial growth rate was inhibited at higher inlet concentration, and the inhibitive effect in the concentration range of 50–150 ppm was more pronounced than that in the concentration range of 150–300 ppm. The degree of inhibitive effect for n-butyl alcohol was more sensitive than that for sec-butyl alcohol in the concentration range of 50–150 ppm. The zero-order kinetic with the diffusion rate limitation could be regarded as the most adequate biochemical reaction model. For the biochemical reaction process, the biochemical reaction rate coefficient of n-butyl alcohol was greater than that of sec-butyl alcohol in the inlet concentration range of 50–300 ppm. The biochemical reaction rate coefficient was decreased with increasing inlet concentration. The inhibitive effect for sec-butyl alcohol was more pronounced than that for n-butyl alcohol. The factor of the chemical structure of compound was more predominant in the microbial growth and biochemical reaction processes. The maximum elimination capacity of n-butyl alcohol and sec-butyl alcohol were 55.7 and 20.9 g C h^?1 m^?3 bed volume, respectively. The primary alcohol was easily biodegraded by the microbial.