Modeling Substrate Transport into Biofilms: Role of Multiple Ions and pH Effects
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 119, Issue 5
Abstract
Steady‐state substrate utilization in biofilms has traditionally been modeled by coupling Fickian diffusion with Monod reaction kinetics. An inherent assumption in most of the previous models was that the pH remains constant within the biofilm. Experiments have shown differences between the pH in the bulk solution and in the biofilm. Since the rate of substrate utilization in biological systems can be affected severely by changes in pH, recent models have tried to account for the pH variations within the biofilm. However, these models neglected ionic interactions during mass transport. A fundamental approach incorporating the effects of pH in any chemical or biological system involving diffusion with reaction is presented. The approach is applied to a steady‐state model of substrate utilization in carbon‐limited algal biofilms.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 119 • Issue 5 • September 1993
Pages: 908 - 930
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 24, 1992
Published online: Sep 1, 1993
Published in print: Sep 1993
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