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Feasibility Study of Using Cutting Oil as an Organic Phase in a Bioscrubber for Enhanced Absorption of Volatile Organic Compounds from Polluted Air

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Student Research Committee, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as toluene, are among the major air pollutants due to their persistence, hydrophobicity, and adverse effects on human health and the environment. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using cutting oil as an organic phase in two-phase bioscrubbers to enhance the biological removal of toluene.

Materials and Methods: First, the biocompatibility of cutting oil at concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30% was assessed using activated sludge cultures in media containing the oil. Subsequently, the toluene absorption performance in the presence of the organic phase was evaluated under various flow rates by measuring the mass transfer to the liquid phase. Bioaerosol concentrations at the scrubber outlet were also determined using NIOSH method 0800.

Results: Results indicated that at a 10% concentration, cutting oil had no adverse effects on microbial growth and led to a 5.7-fold increase in toluene absorption compared to pure water. At higher concentrations, microbial growth declined significantly, and the overall mass transfer coefficient (KLa) decreased. The lowest bioaerosol emission was also observed at the 10% oil concentration.

Conclusion: In conclusion, adding cutting oil as an organic phase in bioscrubbers, particularly at lower concentrations, can enhance the absorption capacity of toluene, extend its residence time in the liquid phase, and provide more favorable conditions for biodegradation. Given its low cost, availability, and favorable physical properties, cutting oil appears to be a promising and efficient alternative for application in two-phase bioscrubber systems for VOC removal.
 
Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Keywords

References
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Journal of Research in Environmental Health

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 25 August 2025
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