2.1. Pilot scale unit and experiment set up

Two PVC columns of 0.15 m diameter and 2 m high were packed with a solid support (peat: perlite; 1:9) and used to follow phenols removal in woodwaste leachate. These units (Figure 2) are equipped with utilities, which are a storage leachate system composed of two mini-

Figure 2. Pilot scale unit for phenolic compounds removal study.

refrigerators set to 4°C and aeration system connected to compressed air source with copper tubes in T-shape and connected to the bottom of each column using rigid tubes after passing in control air flow rate system. Columns are also equipped with exit air steam collector composed of four bottles containing each 100 ml of methanol, connected in series for each column via T-shape connection with the out vacuum evacuation. The output air steam was collected for 4 hours twice a week and if the air steam collection was not in operation, the valve connected to the out vacuum evacuation was opened. Woodwaste leachate was fed continuously to columns via Masterflex tubes at the top using a peristaltic pump, simulating trickling filtration.
