Degradability of Organic and Inorganic Compounds in Biofilters

Compound Molecular
Weight		 Boiling Point
(°C)		 Degradability
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
methane 16.04 -182.5 (+)
pentane 72.15 -129.7 (+)
hexane 86.18 -95 +
Aromatic hydrocarbons
benzene 78.12 80.1 +
toluene 92.15 110.6 ++
xylene 106.17 138-144 ++
styrene 104.16 145.2 +
Oxygen- bearing compounds
alcohols ++
methanol 32.04 65 ++
butanol 72.12 99-117 ++
ethers (+)
tetrahydrofuran 72.12 67 ++
diethyl ether 74.12 34.5 (+)
dioxane 88.12 101-105 (+)
aldehydes ++
fomaldehyde 30.03 -21 ++
acetaldehyde 44.05 20.8 ++
ketones +
acetone 58.08 56.2 +
carbonic acids ++
butyric acid 88.12 163.5 ++
esters of carbonic acid +
ethyl acetate 88.12 77.1 +
methyl methacrilate 100.13 100-101 ?
phenols +
Sulphur - bearing compunds
dimethyl sulfide 62.13 37.3 +
thiocyanates +
isothiocyanates ?
thiophene 84.14 84.2 +
mercaptans +
methyl mercaptan 48.11 6.2 +
carbon disuilphide 76.14 46.3 +
Nitrogen- bearing compounds
amides +
amines ++
trimethylamine 59.11 2.9 ++
nitrogen heterocycles +
pyridine 79.1 115.5 +
isocyanates ?
nitriles +
acetonitrile 41.05 81.6 +
isonitriles +
Halogenated hydrocarbons
dichloromethane 84.93 40 (+)
trichloroethylene 131.39 87 ?
perchloroethelene 165.83 121 ?
chlorophenols +
1,1,1-trichloroethane 133.41 74.1 -
Hydrogen sulfide 34.08 -60.7 +
Ammonia 17.03 -33.3 +
Source: Soc. of German Engineers - (VDI), DI 3477,1991
++ excellent degradability
+ good degradability
(+) low degradability
- not degradable
? no consistent results