SBIR-STTR Award

The Phase I research will complete development of a mathematical model and conduct continuous flow bench-scale studies to evaluate the feasibility and applicability of a proposed alternative offgas VOC control strategy. The proposed system utilized offgas capture from wastewater treatment and storage units for recycle to an aerobic biological treatment process. The recycled gas phase will increase the biomass-VOC contact time and the mass of voc removed by the biodegradation mechanism. This will reduce the net VOC mass that is volatilized and ultimately discharged in the waste gas. The proposed treatment scheme will thereby reduce the offgas volume and VOC load that requires treatment and will result in potentially significant savings in capital and operating costs. The offgas recycle system may be applied as either a stand-alone or supplemental voc control strategy. It requires a waste stream that contains VOCs and sufficient organic substrate to support a biological treatment process. These conditions typically exist for the above regulated industries which have also installed conventional biological treatment facilities for wastewater management.