Cabeza, I.López Núñez, RafaelGiráldez Díaz, InmaculadaStuetz, R. M.Díaz Blanco, Manuel Jesús2015-12-012015-12-012013Cabeza, I., López Núñez, R., Giráldez Díaz, I., Stuetz, R.M., Díaz Blanco, M.J.: "Biofiltration of α-pinene vapours using municipal solid waste (MSW) - Pruning residues (P) composts as packing materials". Chemical Engineering Journal. Vol. 233, págs. 149–158, (2013). DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2013.08.0321385-8947http://hdl.handle.net/10272/11454In this study, a biofiltration system was designed using mature composts of municipal solid waste (MSW) or MSW mixed with pruning residues (MSW-P) as packing materials to treat vapours of α-pinene (a dominant volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted during the MSW-P co-composting). Monitoring the efficiency of the biofiltration system was carried out using a photoionization analyser, a commercial electronic nose (e-nose) and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Using an EBRT of 66. s, removal efficiencies for both kinds of biofilters were greater than 90% removal at different stages of the experiment. The acclimatisation periods were 10 and 25. days for the MSW biofilter and MSW-P biofilter, respectively. Removal efficiency of the system was strongly dependent upon the moisture content of the packing materials. As moisture content in the biofilters fell to below 66% for the MSW and 51% (dry basis) for MSW-P, the removal efficiency decreased to less than 90%. E-nose and GC/MS data indicate a complete degradation of the α-pinene. The e-nose detected a characteristical background emission (odour fingerprint) of each type of biofilter. Results suggest that e-nose's will become a more powerful tool for monitoring VOCs in biofiltration and composting processes in the future.engAtribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 Españahttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/es/BiofiltrationVolatile organic compoundsVolatile organic compoundsCompostingMoistureElectronic noseα-Pinenejournal article10.1016/j.cej.2013.08.032open access