Utilizing biotricklingfilters to reduce water consumption ......•Aly Hassan, A.“Towards more greener ethanol industry: Replacing scrubbers with biotricklingfilters”, presented

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Utilizing biotrickling filters to reduce water consumption at fermentation and dryer stacks in ethanol plants

Ashraf Aly Hassan, Ph.D., P. E.Civil EngineeringFunding Amount: $20,000 USGS - Cost Share: $40,065Funding Period: 03/01/2017 - 02/28/2018

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•Examine the potential biodegradation of the major hazardous air pollutants constituents individually in a biotrickling filter•Compare the impact of elevated temperature and room temperature on the removal of hazardous air pollutants •Evaluate the removal efficiency of representative hazardous air pollutant mixtures in the biotrickling filter•Demonstrate biotrickling filter as a viable alternative to water scrubbers

Project Goal & ObjectiveMinimize water and energy utilization as part of emissions control at

ethanol plant by studying the feasibility of biotrickling filters as a green biological alternative.

BTF utilization has the potential of water quantity reduction to 1/20 of that of the scrubber.

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Projects tasks# Inletconc.,ppmv Temp. BTF

Acetaldehyde Formaldehyde Ethanol

I

A 5 - -

20 oC AB 10 - -C 20 - -D 30 - -E 5 - -

50 oC BF 10 - -G 20 - -H 30 - -

II

A - 5 -

20 oC AB - 10 -C - 20 -D - 30 -E - 5 -

50 oC BF - 10 -G - 20 -H - 30 -

III

A 20 20 10

20 oC AB 20 20 20C 20 20 40D 20 20 80E 20 20 10

50 oC BF 20 20 20G 20 20 40H 20 20 80

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•Masters student hired•All parts purchased •System buildup: In Progress

Project Progress

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•Aly Hassan, A. “Towards more greener ethanol industry: Replacing scrubbers with biotrickling filters”, presented at the 2017 AEESP Research and Education Conference, held in Ann Arbor, MI, June 20-22, 2017.

•Ethanol Board: Emerging Issues Forum, will be held in La Vista, NE, April 2018•Odors and Air Pollutants 2018 Conference: will be help in Portland, OR, March 25 – 28, 2018 •AWMA 111th Annual Conference: will be held in Hartland, CT, June 25-28, 2018

Conference Presentation

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Next Research Steps•The biodegradation of these compounds will need to be optimized in order to achieve practical EBRT. •Pilot study, where actual emissions will be evaluated.•Mixed with numerous compounds •Fluctuating concentrations.

Future funding targets•Partnership with ethanol industry (Ethanol Board)•Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry proposal to NSF: •CBET – Environmental Sustainability à October 2018

•DOE

Future Funding Plans

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Questions and Discussion