Biological treatment of gaseous emissions containing dimethyl sulphide generated from pulp and paper industry

•Work carried out with live gaseous emission.•Experimented with low concentration of the DMS.•Seeded pure culture for DMS degradation but existed mixed culture in the system. A bench scale biofilter packed with compost and wood chips seeded with potential DMS degrading culture (Bacillus sphaericus) could efficiently remove DMS from ambient air with removal efficiency (RE%) of 71±11 at an effective bed contact time (EBCT) of 360±20s with loading rate in the range of 4–28gDMS/m3/h. Further, the same biofilter operated for the treatment of vent gas generated from a P&P industry indicated DMS removal of 61±18% at optimal EBCT of 360±25s with a loading rate in the range of 3–128gDMS/m3/h.