Biofiltration of Nitrous Oxide Using Cow-Manure Based Compost as Medium Filter

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O) gas is a fourth contributor in the greenhouse effect after CO2, CH4, and water vapor. Although its concentration is relatively low, but very difficult to be decomposed in the atmosphere. A laboratory-scale biofilter was used to evaluate the effects of flow rate, medium depth, and water content of filter medium on the N2O removal efficiency and the growth of microorganisms in the compost. The biofilter was operated using cow-manure based compost medium with husk and coco peat as bulking agent. Research was carried out by batch flow system for 9 hours. The result indicates that the highest N2O removal efficiency is obtained under flow rate of 88 cm3/min with a depth of 50 cm and water content 50% (w/w) by 61%, and elimination capacity for 14078 g/(m3·h) was achieved.

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T. Surya Utami, H. Hermansyah and M. Nasikin, "Biofiltration of Nitrous Oxide Using Cow-Manure Based Compost as Medium Filter," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 3 No. 7, 2012, pp. 584-588. doi: 10.4236/jep.2012.37070.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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