Development of an alternative anoxic bioreactor for air pollution control: Mathematical modelling of the simultaneous removal of methane and hydrogen sulfide.

• Grant number: 24/18937-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Jorge Luis Rodrigues Pantoja Filho
• Grantee: Jady Mikely de Noronha Ananias
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências da Natureza (CCN). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Campus de Lagoa do Sino. Buri , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Air pollution is a growing global concern, necessitating urgent and effective measures to mitigate its devastating impacts on human health and the environment. The rising concentrations of methane (CH4)-a major greenhouse gas-and hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-a highly toxic gas to living organisms-further exacerbate the challenges of air pollution, underscoring the urgent need for efficient removal strategies. Within this context, the proposed research aims to develop, through mathematical modeling, an innovative anoxic bioreactor that does not require the introduction of oxygen into the system for the simultaneous removal of CH4 and H2S from contaminated gas streams. The mathematical modeling will be based on differential equations describing the mass balance of contaminants throughout the reactor, considering biochemical and kinetic reactions. The model calibration will utilize previously published experimental data, adjusting parameters to ensure accuracy and reliability. This research will contribute to the understanding of CH4 and H2S removal processes under anoxic conditions, providing an efficient and sustainable technological solution to mitigate air pollution, with potential applications in industrial scale.