This paper reports results of studies using a biotrickling filter with blast-furnace slag packings (sizes = 2-4 cm and specific surface area = 120 m(2)/m(3)) for treatment of ethylether in air stream. Effects of volumetric loading, superficial gas velocity, empty bed gas retention time, recirculation liquid flow rate, and biofilm renewal on the ethylether removal efficiency and elimination capacity were tested. Results indicate that ethylether removal efficiencies of more than 95% were obtained with an empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 113 sec and loadings of lower than 70 g/m(3)/hr. At an EBRT of 57 sec, removal efficiencies of more than 90% could only be obtained with loadings of lower than 35 g/m(3)/hr. The maximum elimination capacities were 71 and 45 g/m(3)/hr for EBRT = 113 and 57 sec, respectively. The maximum ethylether elimination capacities were 71 and 96 g/m(3)/hr, respectively, before and after the renewal at EBRT = 113 sec. With an EBRT of 113 set and a loading of lower than 38 g/m(3)/hr, the removal efficiency was nearly independent of the superficial liquid recirculation velocity in the range of 3.6 to 9.6 m(3)/m(2)/hr. From data regression, simplified mass-transfer limited, and reaction- and mass-transfer limited models correlating the contaminant concentration and the packing height were proposed and verified. The former model is applicable for cases of low influent contaminant concentrations or loadings, and the latter is applicable for cases of higher ones. Finally, CO2 conversion efficiencies of approximately 90% for the influent ethylether were obtained. The value is comparable to data reported from other rebated studies.
