Toward Sustainable Kitchen Emission Control: A Loofah-Enhanced Multi-Media Bio-Scrubbing Approach for Simulated Cooking Fume Purification

This study investigates the performance of a multi-media bio-scrubbing system that integrates activated sludge with loofah as a biofilm carrier for the purification of complex pollutants from simulated cooking fumes: oils, Non-Methane Hydrocarbons (NMHCs), PM2.5/PM10, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Compared to conventional carriers like activated carbon, the biodegradable and low-cost loofah, with its hierarchical porous structure and balanced hydrophilic–lipophilic properties, showed enhanced support for microbial colonization (achieving a biomass density of 105 mg/g) and pollutant adsorption. The system achieved high removal efficiencies in lab-scale tests: 97.4% for total VOCs (including 96.5–100% removal of recalcitrant alkanes and olefins), 91.3% for oils, and >88% for PM2.5/PM10. Mechanistic analysis indicated that the biofilm was dominated by Proteobacteria and Actinomycetes, and the synergistic effect between physical adsorption (via loofah’s porosity) and biodegradation (by microbial consortia) enabled stable performance (maintaining >90% efficiency over a 25-day operation) without observed secondary pollution. The loofah-activated sludge configuration demonstrated improved operational stability and the potential for lower operating costs compared to single-medium systems in this experimental setting. This work explores a promising, eco-friendly approach for treating simulated cooking fumes, utilizing renewable biomass carriers and biological processes, which could contribute to cleaner production strategies.