In this study, the performance of a lab-scale Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) under differentoperating conditions was analysed. Moreover, the dependence of the reaction rates both fromthe concentration and biodegradability of substrates and from the biofilm surface density, bymeans of several batch kinetic tests, was investigated. The reactor controls exhibited anincreasing COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) removal, reaching maximum yields (close to 90%)for influent loadings of up to12.5 gCOD/m2d. From this value, the pilot plant performancedecreased to yields of only about 55% for influent loadings greater than 16 gCOD/m2d. Inresponse to the influent loading increase, the biofilm surface density exhibited a logistic growingtrend until reaching a maximum amount of total attached solids of about 9.5 g/m2. The kinetictest results indicated that the COD removal rates for rapidly biodegradable, rapidly hydrolysableand slowly biodegradable substrates were not affected by the organic matter concentrations.Instead, first-order kinetics were detected with respect to biofilm surface density. Theexperimental results permitted the formulation of a mathematical model to predict the MBBRorganic matter removal efficiency. The validity of the model was successfully tested in the labscaleplant
An experimental model of COD abatement in MBBR based on biofilm growth dynamic and on substrates' removal kinetics
SICILIANO, Alessio
;
2016-01-01
Abstract
In this study, the performance of a lab-scale Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) under differentoperating conditions was analysed. Moreover, the dependence of the reaction rates both fromthe concentration and biodegradability of substrates and from the biofilm surface density, bymeans of several batch kinetic tests, was investigated. The reactor controls exhibited anincreasing COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) removal, reaching maximum yields (close to 90%)for influent loadings of up to12.5 gCOD/m2d. From this value, the pilot plant performancedecreased to yields of only about 55% for influent loadings greater than 16 gCOD/m2d. Inresponse to the influent loading increase, the biofilm surface density exhibited a logistic growingtrend until reaching a maximum amount of total attached solids of about 9.5 g/m2. The kinetictest results indicated that the COD removal rates for rapidly biodegradable, rapidly hydrolysableand slowly biodegradable substrates were not affected by the organic matter concentrations.Instead, first-order kinetics were detected with respect to biofilm surface density. Theexperimental results permitted the formulation of a mathematical model to predict the MBBRorganic matter removal efficiency. The validity of the model was successfully tested in the labscaleplantI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
