RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Optimizing the composition of bioactive coatings to support toluene removal
A1 González Martín, Javier
A1 Campo, Aránzazu del
A1 Muñoz Torre, Raúl
A1 Lebrero Fernández, Raquel
K1 3302 Tecnología Bioquímica
AB The potential of bioactive coatings as an innovative biotechnology to overcome the mass-transfer limitations of conventional technologies when treating air pollutants, especially hydrophobic volatile organic compounds, was herein assessed. Bioactive coatings consist of active microorganisms entrapped in a polymer matrix, which needs to be porous to facilitate an effective gas pollutant exchange. To increase porosity, two additives, sucrose and glycerol mixtures (Suc/Gly) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), were included in the bioactive coatings at two concentration levels. The toluene removals of the different bioactive coatings were studied in batch mode at low (∼300 mg m−3) and high (∼3000 mg m−3) toluene concentrations. Overall, low HNTs concentration coatings supported optimum toluene removals (>95 %), comparable to biofilm controls at both toluene concentrations. High HNTs concentration coatings and low Suc/Gly concentration coatings achieved toluene removals over 95 % after 7 toluene injections at low toluene concentration. At high toluene concentrations, these coatings eventually outperformed the biofilm controls. High Suc/Gly concentration coatings supported a limited toluene removal (4 and 1 injection at low and high toluene concentrations, respectively), attributed to a preferential consumption of sucrose over toluene. These findings were corroborated by ESEM/conventional SEM imaging, revealing porosity in the HNTs bioactive coatings, visible at both the surface and internal levels. On the contrary, more homogeneous surfaces were observed in the Suc/Gly bioactive coatings, where total polymer coalescence was partially hindered by the addition of Suc/Gly. These results paved the way towards the implementation of bioactive coating in larger bioreactors for real-life air purification.
PB Elsevier
SN 2213-3437
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/76960
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/76960
LA eng
NO Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2025, vol. 13, n. 4, p. 117324
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 03-ago-2025