Characteristics of low H2S concentration biogas desulfurization using a biotrickling filter: Performance and modeling analysis

[Display omitted] •Counter-current biotrickling flier (BTF) is effective for low H2S removal in biogas.•A one-dimensional BTF model was established to predict H2S distribution in the bed.•pH and EBRT showed significantly influences on H2S distribution in BTF.•H2S removal is strongly related to sulphide affinity constant in low H2S BTF. This study investigated the characteristics of low H2S concentration biogas biodesulfurization using a lab-scale biotrickling filter (BTF). The influence of operational parameters on H2S removal efficiency and H2S distributions in packed bed was evaluated by establishing a counter-current one-dimensional multi-layer BTF model and statistical analysis of the simulation results. The overall biodesulfurization efficiency of counter-current BTF on treating low H2S concentration was 92.27 ± 10.30%. The H2S distribution of the BTF packed bed could be predicted by the calibrated BTF model. The influence of the operational parameters on the H2S distribution of the packed bed was following the sequence of pH > empty bed retention time (EBRT) > gas-to-liquid flow ratio (G/L). The biogas biodesulfurization process was strongly related to the sulphide affinity constant. Moreover, a high substrate concentration of the SOB could further accelerate the biodesulfurization process of the biogas with low H2S concentration.