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Europe faces the ambition to drastically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In road sector, most of the carbon footprint emissions are generated by vehicles. The remaining emissions are generated during the different stages of road life cycle. Therefore, European and other countries use methods to calculate GHG emissions and evaluate the impact of road construction and maintenance methods, and technologies on the environment. In Lithuania there is a little experience in using such tools, but it has committed itself to reduce GHG emissions not less than 40% comparing with the level of 1990 till 2030. Different modern and innovative techniques are available in road construction and maintenance, but their contribution achieving national goals is unknown. The aim of this research is to compare GHG emissions associated with reconstruction of low-volume road using different construction techniques. Analytical analysis was performed using Highways England Carbon calculation tool. This study showed that soft asphalt and warm asphalt technologies are more efficient than hot asphalt in terms of GHG emissions, which are respectively lower by 20.3% and 5.2%.

Currently, one of the most efficient and prospective methods of biodegradable waste management is anaerobic digestion in a bio-reactor. The use of this method for managing biodegradable waste generating in agriculture and elsewhere would result in the recovery of biogas that could be used as an alternative to natural gas. The article presents the results of the experimental tests of biogas production through biological degradation of waste in a bio-reactor by using a mixture of pig manure (PM) and garden waste (GW) in a ratio of 90:10%, a mixture of hen manure (HM) and GW in a ratio of 90:10%. A higher concentration of methane was recorded during the treatment of a pig manure and garden waste mixture in a ratio of 90:10%. The maximum concentration of methane reached 68.0%. Since the methane concentration in this mixture was from 1.5 times higher than in the other mixture. The mixture of pig manure and garden waste was better suitable for biogas and methane production. The biggest amount of bio-gas was registered in 22 days which amounted to 0.650 m3/m3d. The methane concentration in biogas was largest (65%) and this mixture of organic wastes was the best for energy production. Anaerobic digestion of other mixtures showed the following biogas amounts and methane concentrations: 0.311 m3/m3d and 52% (in the case of a PM and GW mixture), respectively; and 0.39 m3/m3d and 26.7% (a mixture of HM and GW), respectively. Key words: Bio-reactor, biogas, methane, anaerobic digestion, garden waste.

Volatile organic compounds, e. g. acetone, have a direct impact on climate change, decrease of ozone in the air, and on the growth of greenhouse effect. One of the most popular air purifying methods from VOC is a biological air cleaning. Experimental investigations were conducted to determine the efficiency of the new structure of biofilter with polypropylene plates segments. During the investigations the efficiency of segmental construction biofilter of air purification at different initial concentrations of pollutants was determined. Different concentrations of pollutants were estimated during the acetone dilution with water. During the tests the efficiency of biofilter air purification from acetone vapor and its change under different concentrations of vapors was set. Based on test results, the maximum efficiency of biofilter air purification was up to 93%. Studies have shown that increasing the allowable pollutant concentration, the efficiency of air purification unit decreases. Increasing the concentration of supplied acetone vapor into the biofilter from 232 to 701 mg/m3, cleaning efficiency decreased from 92.8 to 82.3%. Since microorganisms fail to oxidize organic compounds, the filter works better at lower initial concentrations of pollutants. Article in Lithuanian. Acetono valymo iš oro efektyvumo tyrimai, taikant segmentinės konstrukcijos biofiltrą Santrauka Lakieji organiniai junginiai, tokie kaip acetonas, turi tiesioginę įtaką klimato kaitai, ozono kiekio ore mažėjimui, šiltnamio efekto susidarymui. Vienas populiariausių oro valymo nuo LOJ metodų yra biologinis oro valymas. Eksperimentiniai tyrimai atlikti siekiant nustatyti naujos konstrukcijos biofiltro, užkrauto polipropileno plokštelių segmentais, efektyvumą. Tyrimų metu buvo nustatinėjamas segmentinės konstrukcijos oro valymo biofiltro efektyvumas, esant skirtingoms pradinėms teršalo koncentracijoms. Skirtingos teršalo koncentracijos gautos acetoną skiedžiant vandeniu. Bandymų metu nustatytas biofiltro oro valymo nuo acetono garų efektyvumas, jo kaita esant skirtingoms garų koncentracijoms. Remiantis bandymų rezultatais, didžiausias nustatytas biofiltro oro valymo efektyvumas siekė 93%. Tyrimų metu nustatyta, kad didinant leidžiamo teršalo koncentraciją, įrenginio valymo efektyvumas mažėja. Padidinus į biofiltrą tiekiamų acetono garų koncentraciją nuo 232 iki 701 mg/m3, valymo efektyvumas sumažėjo nuo 92,8 iki 82,3 %. Kadangi mikroorganizmai nespėja oksiduoti organinių junginių, filtras geriau veikia esant mažesnėms pradinėms teršalų koncentracijoms. Reikšminiai žodžiai:acetonas, biofiltras, skaidymas, polipropileno plokštelės.

Experimental studies have been carried out using an adsorber – a constructed laboratory bench. Zeolite, a natural mineral, has been selected as a charge. This aluminosilicate of a crystalline structure is resistant to high temperatures, aggressive mediums and the impact of radiation. Zeolite is ecologically clean, inert and non-toxic material, which fully suits to be used in most industrial, agricultural, environment fields and at home for eliminating the consequences of ecological accidents etc. For the purification of contaminated biogas, the laboratory adsorber is equipped with three sections filled up with 10 cm of adsorbing material the efficiency of which is established after every filtration column (10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm). The studies have been carried employing two different contaminants – sulphur hydrogen (H2S) and ammonia (NH3). It has been established that, with a high concentration of sulphur hydrogen, the efficiency has amounted to 96.1% while the degree of ammonia purification has reached 95.4%,when NH3 concentration in biogas is 24.0 mg/m3. Article in Lithuanian. Sieros vandenilio ir amoniako adsorbcijos ceolito įkrova iš biologinių dujų eksperimentiniai tyrimai Santrauka Eksperimentiniai tyrimai atlikti naudojant laboratorinį stendą – adsorberį. Adsorbentu naudojamas gamtinės kilmės mineralas – ceolitas. Šis kristalinės struktūros aliumosilikatas yra atsparus aukštoms temperatūroms, agresyvioms terpėms ir jonizuojančiosios spinduliuotės poveikiui. Ceolitai – ekologiškai švari, inertinė ir nenuodinga medžiaga, visiškai tinkama naudoti daugelyje pramonės, žemės ūkio, buities, gamtosaugos sričių, taip pat ekologinių katastrofų pasekmėms šalinti ir kitur. Užterštoms biologinėms dujoms valyti laboratoriniame adsorberyje įrengtos trys kolonėlės, pripildytos 10 cm storio adsorbuojamosios medžiagos. Išmatavus teršalo koncentracijas prieš ir po kiekvienos adsorberio kolonėlės (10 cm, 20 cm ir 30 cm), nustatomas adsorbento – ceolito granulių – efektyvumas. Tyrimai atlikti per įrenginį leidžiant sieros vandeniliu (H2S) ir amoniaku (NH3) užterštas biologines dujas. Nustatyta, kad kai pradinė sieros vandenilio koncentracija yra 2371 mg/m3, teršalo išvalymo efektyvumas siekė 96,1 %. Amoniako (NH3) adsorbcijos efektyvumas siekė 95,4 %, kai pradinė NH3 koncentracija biologinėse dujose buvo 24,0 mg/m3. Reikšminiai žodžiai:adsorbcija, biologinės dujos, sieros vandenilis, amoniakas, komunalinės atliekos.

Air cleaning efficiency tests on placing material load into the lavsan biofilter were carried out. Testing included butanol vapour-contaminated air stream pulled during the boot. The studies were conducted by the Department of Environmental Protection at VGTU that developed a biofilter – an experimental biological air cleaning device. Measurements were done using 60 l/min and 90 l/min air volume aspirators under the initial pollutant concentration making 180, 305, 350, 440 and 545 mg/m3. Before measuring the concentrations of butanol lavsan cartridge, loading was periodically irrigated with nutrient-rich solution. In order to evaluate the influence of microorganisms on genus Pseudomonas, cleaning efficiency tests were repeated – Boot was moistened with water only, which allowed measuring butanol vapour concentrations after the cartridge. At the concentration of 180±9 mg/m3, efficiency reached 41% at a speed of 0,07 m/s and 46 % at a speed of 0,10 m/s. Measuring the performance of the initial concentration of 545±67 mg/m3, efficiency was 54% at 0,07 m/s and 53 % at 0,10 m/s respectively. Article in Lithuanian. Lavsano taikymo oro biofiltracijos procese eksperimentiniai tyrimai Santrauka.Atlikti oro valymo efektyvumo tyrimai į lašelinį biofiltrą įkrovus lavsano medžiagos įkrovą. Bandymų metu pro įkrovą buvo traukiamas butanolio garais užterštas oro srautas. Tyrimai atliekami naudojant VGTU Aplinkos apsaugos katedroje sukurtą eksperimentinį biologinį oro valymo įrenginį – biofiltrą. Matavimai atlikti leidžiant 60 l/min. ir 90 l/min. oro kiekį aspiratoriumi. Pradinės teršalo koncentracijos – 180, 305, 350, 440, 545 mg/m3. Prieš matuojant butanolio koncentracijas panaudojant lavsano medžiagos kasetę, įkrova buvo periodiškai drėkinama maistinių medžiagų prisotintu tirpalu. Pseudomonas genties mikroorganizmų įtakai valymo efektyvumui įvertinti tyrimai buvo pakartoti – įkrovos sudrėkinamos tik vandeniu, leidžiami butanolio garai, ir matuojamos koncentracijos panaudojus lavsano medžiagos kasetę. Esant 180±89 mg/m3 koncentracijai biofiltro oro valymo efektyvumas siekė 41 %, kai per įkrovą leidžiamo dujų srauto greitis buvo 0,07 m/s, ir 46 %, kai greitis 0,10 m/s. Nustatyta valymo efektyvumas. Esant 545±55 mg/m3 pradinei koncentracijai jis siekė 54 % (0,07 m/s) ir 53 % (0,10 m/s). Reikšminiai žodžiai: lašelinis biofiltras, valymo efektyvumas, lavsano medžiagos įkrova.

Organic matter in drinking water is determined by applying indirect determination methods used for quantitative measurements such as total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). These analyses require expensive devices, harmful chemical reagents, and are time consuming. Standard water quality tests are inconvenient during start-up or reconstruction of drinking water treatment plants as samples need to be transported to a laboratory and no on-line measurements on plant performing efficiency are available. For practical purposes, less sophisticated and faster methods to determine organic matter are required. One of the methods could be ultraviolet absorption of water at 254 nm wavelength (UV254). It is a technically simple and fast method for determining natural organic matter, requiring neither expensive measurement equipment nor chemical reagents. The present article aims at investigating the possibilities of practical applications of UV254method to determine the concentration of natural organic matter in ground water. The research proved good correlation between TOC and UV254, as well as between CODMnand UV254. The outcomes of the research indicate that UV254method can be successfully applied to determine natural organic matter concentrations in ground water. Article in English. Organinių medžiagų požeminiame vandenyje nustatymas taikant UV bangų absorbciją Santrauka.Organinės medžiagos požeminiame vandenyje nustatomos netiesioginiais kiekybiniais bendrosios organinės anglies (BOA), cheminio deguonies suvartojimo (ChDSMn) ir biocheminio deguonies suvartojimo (BDS) metodais. Šioms analitėms nustatyti būtini brangūs prietaisai, kenksmingi cheminiai reagentai, tyrimai ilgai trunka. Diegiant naujus geriamojo vandens gerinimo įrenginius ir atliekant įrenginių paleidimo, derinimo bei eksploatavimo proceso efektyvumo vertinimą, minėtuosius geriamojo vandens tyrimus nepatogu ir brangu atlikti, todėl šiais atvejais reikia paprastesnio ir greitesnio organinių medžiagų nustatymo metodo. 254 nm bangos ilgio (UV254) ultravioletinių spindulių absorbcija yra techniškai paprastas, spartus organinių junginių koncentracijų nustatymo metodas, jį taikant nebūtina brangi tyrimų įranga bei cheminiai reagentai. Šio darbo tikslas buvo ištirti UV254 metodo tinkamumą organinių junginių koncentracijoms nustatyti požeminiame vandenyje. Atlikus tyrimus apibrėžtos priklausomybės tarp BOA ir UV254 bei tarp ChDSMn ir UV254. Remiantis tyrimų rezultatais galima teigti, kad ultravioletinių spindulių absorbcijos metodas gali būti sėkmingai taikomas organinių junginių koncentracijoms požeminiame vandenyje nustatyti. Reikšminiai žodžiai:požeminis vanduo,organinės medžiagos,ultravioletinių spindulių absorbcija,UV,koaguliacija

A four– section trickle biofilter was constructed for experimental research. The filter was filled with the packing material of artificial origin. The material consists of plastic balls having a large surface area. The dependence of biofilter aerodynamic resistance on supply air flow rate and the number of filter sections was determined. The aerodynamic resistance of the biofilter was measured in two cases. In the first case, the packing material of the filter was dry, whereas in the second case it was wet. The experimental research determined that an increase in the air flow rate from 0.043 m/s to 0.076 m/s causes an increase in biofilter aerodynamic resistance from 30.5 to 62.5 Pa after measuring four layers of dry packing material. In case of wet packing material, biofilter aerodynamic resistance after measuring four layers of plastic balls increases from 42.1 to 90.4Pa. Article in Lithuanian. Lašelinio biofiltro aerodinaminio pasipriešinimo tyrimai Santrauka.Eksperimentiniams tyrimams atlikti sukonstruotas keturių sekcijų lašelinis biofiltras. Filtras užpildytas dirbtinės kilmės įkrova, sudaryta iš didelį paviršiaus plotą turinčių plastikinių rutuliukų. Naudojant įkrovą, skirtą introdukuotų mikroorganizmų asociacijoms kultivuoti, nustatytos biofiltro aerodinaminio pasipriešinimo priklausomybės nuo tiekiamo oro srauto greičio ir sekcijų skaičiaus. Biofiltro aerodinaminis pasipriešinimas matuotas dviem atvejais: esant sausai ir sudrėkintai įkrovai. Nustatyta, kad didinant tiekiamo oro srauto greitį nuo 0,043 iki 0,076 m/s, įrenginio aerodinaminis pasipriešinimas išmatavus keturis įkrovos sluoksnius padidėja nuo 30,5 iki 62,5 Pa tuo atveju, kai įkrova sausa, ir nuo 42,1 iki 90,4 Pa,– kai įkrova sudrėkinta. Raktiniai žodžiai: lašelinis biofiltras, aerodinaminis pasipriešinimas, mikroorganizmai, įkrova.

Experimental research evaluated the possibilities of air treatment efficiency of a cylindrically shaped bio-charge, namely straw, to remove volatile organic compounds from the air. As determined during experiments, the air treatment efficiency of the straw biocharge for acetone removal reached 97.3%, while for butanol removal the efficiency was 86.0%. It has been determined that, with volatile organic compound concentrations increasing biological air treatment efficiency is decreasing as higher concentrations of organic compounds reduce the activity of microorganisms, i.e. their reproduction, respiratory and pollutant oxidation capacities. A higher efficiency of a biological air treatment device is achieved by reducing the velocity of the airflow passed through the biofilter. With airflow velocity decreasing the duration of pollutant contact with the charge is increasing, which raises the biological air treatment efficiency by 1.3 times.

The experimental investigations were carried out, using the biofilter BIOF-I with the system of III cleaning stages, loaded with charge, composed of zeolite granules, wood chips, barks and foam, as well as the biofilter of II cleaning stages BIOF-II, loaded with the mixture of zeolite and wood barks. When mixing the zeolite granules with wood barks for air cleaning from xylene, not only biological, but also adsorptive air treatment method is used. Applying the complex cleaning technologies, the effectiveness of equipment cleaning as well as the life cycle of charge is improved. Cultivating the associations of spontaneous microorganisms in the charge, the dependence of cleaning efficiency of biofilters on the concentration of supplied pollutant and the speed of air flow was determined. When cleaning air from xylene with the initial concentration of pollutant equal to 120±5 mg/m3, the efficiency of filters BIOF-I and BIOF-II was 94 %. The air cleaning efficiency of biofilters increases, when reducing the speed of supplied polluted air flow. In case of reducing the air flow speed from 0.3 to 0.1 m/s, the efficiency of biofilters BIOF-I and BIOFII increases from 75 to 83 % and from 75 to 84 %, respectively.

Air treatment biotechnologies are the most cost-effective and eco-friendly means of reducing the atmospheric emissions of ammonia and other odoriferous substances such as xylene, hydrogen sulphide, acetone, butanol, etc. The main shortcomings of the currently used biofilters are high aerodynamic resistance of a charge, complicated maintenance of humidity and operating temperature in a charge, obstruction of a biocharge with a mass of microorganisms and a big space required for biofilters. It is necessary to develop new technological solutions for rectifying the afore-mentioned shortcomings. The aim of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of a plate-type biofilter with a capillary charge humidification system. The investigation covered identification of the dependence of biofilter’s effectiveness on time, supplied pollutant concentration and velocity in a charge. As determined during the investigation, biofilter’s effectiveness became stable after 35 days of operation. When the velocity of airflow passed through the biofilter was 0.04 m/s, biofilter’s effectiveness reached 79 %.

Presents the results of experiments on the aerodynamics of dry and irrigated regular packing. Elements of the nozzle in the form of streamlined profiles. The material of the nozzle used polymer network made of Mylar filaments. The material and structure of the grid with two-way within the liquid film on its surface. Proven design elements of the regular packing can be used as an effective load of biofilters for air pollution control devices. Experimental data on the hydraulic resistance of dry and irrigated nozzle shown in the form of plots of ΔP=ƒ(Wo). the increasing load on the air Wo from 0.056 m/s to 0.870 m/s pressure drop ΔP/H dry nozzles CR-1K increase with the value of 6.0 Pa/m to 34.0 Pa/m.

The investigation was carried out using a biological air‐treatment device, i.e. a biofilter with an aeration chamber filled with water saturated with biogenic elements. To accelerate the absorption of organic compounds, air polluted with volatile organic compounds is directed to a water reservoir installed in the lower part of the filter where organic compounds are destructed. In the process of aeration, microorganisms propagate in the chamber, degrading part of pollutants to harmless products, carbon dioxide and water. Since all hydrocarbons are water‐soluble, the aeration chamber is the first phase in a hydrocarbon degradation process. Application of such a polluted air‐feeding model improves the sorption qualities of a charge. When relative air humidity reaches 100%, water‐drops evenly distribute over the entire surface area of the charge and improve the activity of microorganisms. Having passed through the aeration chamber, polluted air is filtered via charges of a different origin, composed of zeolite, foam, wood chips or their mixtures. The carried out experiment shows that the best charge filtering capacity is achieved when supplying air polluted with acetone at the rate of 0.1 m/s. At the initial pollutant concentration of 115 mg/m3the biofilter treatment efficiency reached 96%. The aeration chamber installed in the biofilter increases both microbiological activity of the charge and air treatment efficiency. Valymo biofiltru su aeracine kamera efektyvumo tyrimai Santrauka.Tyrimai atlikti naudojant biologinį oro valymo įrenginį – biofiltrą su aeracine kamera, pripildyta biogeninių elementų prisotinto vandens. Siekiant pagreitinti organinių junginių absorbciją lakiaisiais organiniais junginiais, užterštas oras nukreipiamas į filtro apatinėje dalyje įrengtą vandens talpyklą, kurioje vyksta organinių junginių destrukcija. Aeracijos proceso metu kameroje dauginasi mikroorganizmai. Jie suskaido dalį teršalų iki nekenksmingų produktų – anglies dvideginio ir vandens. Visi angliavandeniliai tirpūs vandenyje, todėl aeracinė kamera yra pirminis angliavandenilių skilimo proceso etapas. Taikant tokį užteršto oro tiekimo į įrenginį modelį pagerinamos įkrovos sorbcinės savybės. Santykinei oro drėgmei pakilus iki 100 %, vandens lašeliai tolygiai pasiskirsto per visą įkrovos paviršiaus plotą ir pagerina mikroorganizmų aktyvumą. Pratekėjęs aeracinę kamerą užterštas oras filtruojamas pro skirtingos kilmės įkrovas, sudarytas iš ceolito, porolono, medienos drožlių ir jų mišinių. Atlikus eksperimentinius tyrimus nustatyta, kad geriausiai įkrova filtravo 0,1 m/s greičiu į įrenginį tiekiamą acetonu užterštą orą. Esant pradinei šio teršalo koncentracijai 115 mg/m3 , valymo biofiltru efektyvumas siekė 96 %. Taigi biofiltre įrengta aeracinė kamera padidina įkrovos mikrobiologinį aktyvumą ir užteršto oro valymo efektyvumą. Reikšminiai žodžiai: biofiltras, sorbentai, biodegradacija, aeracija, adsorbcija, absorbcija, lakieji organiniai junginiai. Исследование эффективности биофильтра с аэрационной камерой Резюме.При выполнении экспериментальных исследований использовалось биологическое устройство для очистки воздуха – биофильтр с аэрационной камерой, заполненной водой и насыщаемой биогенными элементами. Для того, чтобы ускорить процессы абсорбции органических соединений, воздух, загрязненный летучими органическими соединениями, направлялся в резервуар с водой, установленный в низкой части фильтра, в котором органические соединения разрушались. В процессе аэрации в камере размножаются микроорганизмы, которые разрушают часть загрязнителей до безопасных продуктов: углекислого газа и воды. Так как все углеводороды растворимы в воде, в аэрационной камере происходит первоначальный процесс деградации углеводорода. При такой модели подачи загрязненного воздуха в устройство улучшаются сорбционные свойства загрузки. Когда относительная влажность воздуха достигает 100 %, капли воды равномерно распределяются по всей площади поверхности загрузки и улучшают деятельность микроорганизмов. Пройдя через аэрационную камеру, загрязненный воздух фильтруется через загрузку различного происхождения, составленную из цеолита, поролона, щепы или их смесей. Эксперимент показал, что загрузка лучше всего фильтровала загрязненный ацетоном воздух, подаваемый в устройство со скоростью 0,1 м/сек. При начальной концентрации загрязнителя, равной 115 мг/м3 , эффективность биофильтра достигала 96 %. Таким образом, установленная в биофильтре аэрационная камера увеличивает как микробиологическую активность загрузки, так и эффективность очищения воздуха. Ключевые слова: биофильтр, сорбенты, биологический распад, аэрация, адсорбция, абсорбция, летучие органические составы. First Published Online: 14 Oct 2010

In order to carry out an experimental investigation a biological air‐treatment device was used, namely, a biofilter with a charge of a different origin composed of zeolite, foam and wood chips. When mixing foam and zeolite together with wood chips for air treatment from volatile organic compounds, not only a biological but also adsorptive air‐treatment method is used. Using complex treatment technologies the device efficiency and the charge service period are improved. The investigation has shown that microorganisms, being predominant in the bio‐treatment process, can breed in charges of on inorganic origin made of natural zeolite and foam. While cultivating spontaneous microorganism associations in the charge, biofilter treatment efficiency was determined to be dependent on the sort of the supplied pollutant, concentration and filtration period. The charge filtration function was most efficient at a velocity of 0,1 m/s when the device was supplied with acetone‐polluted air. Cleaning air from acetone, when the original concentration of the pollutant was 103 mg/m3, the filter treatment efficiency reached 95%. When the concentration of pollutants supplied into the biofilter is reduced and the filtration period is increased, the device treatment efficiency increases as well. Biologinio oro valymo įrenginio su aktyvinta skirtingos kilmės įkrova valymo efektyvumo tyrimai Santrauka.Eksperimentiniams tyrimams atlikti buvo naudotas biologinis oro valymo įrenginys – biofiltras užkrautas skirtingos kilmės įkrova, sudaryta iš ceolito, porolono ir medienos drožlių. Poroloną ir ceolitą maišant su medienos drožlėmis lakiesiems organiniams junginiams valyti iš oro taikomas ne tik biologinis, bet ir adsorbcinis oro valymo metodas. Kompleksiškai taikant skirtingas valymo technologijas pagerinamas įrenginio valymo efektyvumas ir įkrovos naudojimo laikas. Tyrimai parodė, kad biologinio valymo procese vyraujantys mikroorganizmai gali daugintis ir neorganinės kilmės įkrovose, sudarytose iš gamtinio ceolito bei porolono. Įkrovoje kultivuojant savaiminių mikroorganizmų asociacijas nustatytos biofiltro valymo efektyvumo priklausomybės nuo tiekiamo teršalo rūšies, koncentracijos, filtracijos laiko. Geriausiai įkrova filtravo 0,1 m/s greičiu į įrenginį tiekiamą acetonu užterštą orą. Valant iš oro acetoną, kai pradinė teršalo koncentracija yra 103 mg/m3 , filtro valymo efektyvumas siekė 95 %. Mažinant į biofiltrą tiekiamų teršalų koncentracijas ir didinant jų filtracijos laiką, įrenginio valymo efektyvumas didėja. Reikšminiai žodžiai: biofiltras, lakieji organiniai junginiai, biodegradacija, ceolitas, adsorbcija, mikroorganizmai. Исследование эффективности установки для биологической очистки воздуха с активированной загрузкой различного происхождения Peзюме.Для выполнения экспериментальных исследований использовалось биологическое устройство для очистки воздуха – биофильтр, загруженный загрузкой различной породы, состоящей из цеолита, поролона и древесины. При смешивании поролона, цеолита и древесины для очистки воздуха от летучих органических составов применялся не только биологический, но и aдсорбционный метод очистки воздуха. При совместном применении разных технологий очистки улучшается эффективность устройства и продлевается срок действия загрузки. Исследование показало, что микроорганизмы могут размножаться и на загрузках неорганического происхождения, состоящих из природного цеолита и поролона. При выращивании самопроизвольных ассоциаций микроорганизмов установлены зависимости эффективности очистки воздуха от вида поступающего загрязнителя, концентрации и периода фильтрации. Фильтрация была наилучшей, когда воздух, загрязненный ацетоном, подавался в биофильтр со скоростью 0,1 м/сек. Эффективность биофильтра при очищении воздуха от ацетона, первоначальная концентрация которого составляла 103 мг/м3 , достигала 95%. Эффективность очищения воздуха в устройстве увеличивается, когда концентрация поставляемых в биофильтр загрязнителей уменьшается, а период фильтрации продлевается. Ключевые слова: биофильтр, летучие органические составы, биологический распад, цеолит, адсорбция, микроорганизмы. First Published Online: 14 Oct 2010

In recent years complex treatment technologies including not only microbiological but also other efficient air treatment methods have been increasing applied. The highest effect is achieved when different methods are optimally combined together. With the aim to improve the efficiency of volatile organic compounds removal from the air, the biological and adsorption air treatment methods are combined in the work. The investigation showed that microorganisms participating in the process of biological treatment could also reproduce in the charges of inorganic origin composed of natural zeolite and foam. When these charges are mixed with wood chips the microbiological activity of the medium is increased. A charge composed of the mixture of wood chips and zeolite, 150 mm thick, was distinguished by the best treatment qualities. The highest microbiological activity in this charge was achieved when air contaminated with butanol was passed through it at the temperature of 30 °C. The number of units forming the colonies of microorganisms in zeolite amounted to 19.8 x 104 cfu/g, and the concentration of butanol decreased from 303 mg/m3 to 219 mg/m3. A high level of contaminant removal will be achieved upon increasing a filtering layer.