Removal of Acetone Vapor from Air Using a Biotrickling Filter Packed with Polymeric Bioballs

Acetone released into the atmosphere can adversely affect human health and the environment. The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of a laboratory-scale biotrickling filter (BTF) with bioball packing material to remove acetone vapor from contaminated air. The acetone removal efficiency was investigated in two different scenarios: with and without the inoculation of microorganisms. Three strains of bacteria, Pseudomonas putida, Rhodococcus aerolatus, and Aquaspirillum annulus, were used in the BTF. In both cases, the filter units were simultaneously operated for 100 days under three different inlet acetone concentrations (0.18 ± 0.01 g/m3, 0.25 ± 0.01 g/m3, and 0.40 ± 0.02 g/m3) and two different gas flow rates (2.54 and 5.09 m3/h). The results showed that acetone removal was greater in the filter with the inoculated bacteria. In the filter operated without inoculum, the acetone removal efficiency gradually decreased with filtration time from 90.1% to 6.1%. While employing three types of bacteria in the BTF, the efficiency of acetone removal remained relatively stable and varied between 70.2% and 97.6%. The study also revealed that bioballs can be successfully used as a packing material in air biofiltration systems designed for acetone removal from the air.

Prevention of Septal Perforation Using a Combination of Crushed Cartilage and Thin Silastic Sheet During Septoplasty

Background and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a combination of crushed cartilage and thin silastic sheet for patients with a risk of septal perforation during septoplasty.Materials and Methods: A total of 195 people who underwent septoplasty surgery at Dong-A University Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were enrolled retrospectively. Among 195 people, our surgical method was provided for those with damage to both septal mucosa. The cartilage was collected, crushed with the cartilage crusher, and inserted between perforated mucosa. After the cartilage insertion, a 0.254-mm-thin silastic sheet was designed to cover both sides of the perforated septal mucosa. Next, a penetrating suture was placed. After thin silastic was applied on both mucosa, a 1-mm-thick silastic sheet was inserted on both sides of the nasal cavity and penetrating sutures were placed on the anterior and inferior septum. The operation concluded after packing both sides of the nasal cavity using non-absorbable packing material. The packing was removed on the second day after the operation, and the nasal cavity condition was checked every week. Thick silastic sheets were removed 5 days after surgery, and thin silastic sheets were maintained until both septal mucosa healed.Results: Of nine total cases, only one 78-year-old male experienced septal perforation at the cartilage portion two months after surgery. In this case, no other action was taken to cover the perforation site because he reported no symptoms or discomfort during the 9 months after surgery. In the other eight cases, both septal mucosa healed completely, and there were no complications.Conclusion: This method with crushed cartilage and silastic sheets to fill the defect after septal surgery is thought to help prevent postoperative perforation at no additional cost, and further research is needed.