NSF Award
9423987
Deflaun 9423987 This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project involves the development of a biocatalyst-based reactor system for the destruction of hydrohalocarbon compounds known to contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. During Phase I work, Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5 was selected as uniquely suited for use in biotrickling filters designed to treat air emission. Phase II research will attempt to: (1) establish potential co-substrates for hydrohalocarbon oxidation; (2) develop an on-line gas chromatographic method for continuous monitoring of pollutant halogenated hydrocarbons; (3) show the feasibility of using M. caccae JOB5 in bench-scale biotrickling filters and verify mineralization of target compounds; (4) establish the optimal feeding rate to these biofiltering devices; (5) obtain data on the long-term use of the biotrickling filter; (6) use this information in cost analyses of estimates for construction of a full-scale biotrickling filter, and in projecting capital and operating costs in comparison with those of conventional physical/chemical treatment technologies; and (7) incorporate this information into a final report and commercialization plan for the technology. It is suggested that the development of a bioreactor system for the removal and destruction of hydrohalocarbon vapor emissions potentially could offer significant cost reductions and overall savings compared to today's conventional air treatment options. %%% This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project involves the development of a biocatalyst-based reactor system for the destruction of pollutant compounds that contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. During Phase I work, Mycobacterium vaccae JOB5 was selected as best suited for use in biotrickling filters designed to remove these pollutants from the air. Phase II research will attempt to: (1) find out what kind of compounds can be removed from air with this microbe-based filter system; (2) deve lop an on-line gas chromatographic method to continuously measure the concentration of these pollutants in air; (3) show the feasibility of using M. caccae JOB5 in bench-scale biotrickling filters and verify that the filtering device destroys the target compounds; (4) establish the rate at which the filter system can destroy pollutants; (5) obtain data on the long-term use of the biotrickling filter; and (6) use this information in cost analyses for building a full-scale biotrickling filter, and comparing capital investments and operating costs for this novel biotechnology with conventional physical/chemical treatment technologies. Finally, these data will be incorporated into a final report and commercialization plan for this novel technology. It is suggested that the development of a bioreactor system could provide significant cost reductions and overall savings compared to today's conventional air treatment options. ***
