Abstract Detail

Poster Session

Mickelson, Emily [1].

Investigating the Relationships between Varying Filter Media and Microbial Populations in Biofiltration Processes.

Livestock production and manure management emit large amounts of odorous and hazardous emissions into the atmosphere. These emissions impair local air quality, lead to regional acid deposition, and are a major global source of greenhouse gases. Biofilters are a low-cost technology composed of microbial communities growing on porous substrates, typically wood chips, that capture and degrade these complex emissions as they permeate the biofilter media. While over 90% reductions are possible for some emissions, long-term performance can be significantly reduced by media degradation by fungal saprobes. By investigating the relationship between media composition and decay rates in a biofilter, high organic nitrogen content was identified as a potential driver of reduced media life. To test this, hardwood and softwood chips were infused with various concentrations of nitrogen and were decayed in soil block jars inoculated with Pleurotus ostreatus. Results suggest the decreased C:N ratio can affect degradation rates by this white rot fungus. Leaching tests, however, show some loss of nitrogen in the treatments. Further work is underway to explore the relationship between media type, fungal abundance in, and decay of biofilter media.

1 - University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Bioproducts & Biosystems Engineering, 2004 Folwell Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Offered Paper - Poster
Session: P4
Location: Lincoln Room/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Tuesday, June 10th, 2014
Time: 8:00 PM
Number: P4005
Abstract ID:194
Candidate for Awards:None