Efficacy of Biofilms under Toxic Conditions
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 6
Abstract
Response of biofilms to toxic compounds has been modeled using Monod-type inhibition kinetics. Biofilm inhibition due to substrate, secondary substrate, and product is considered. For biofilm inhibition due to substrate and secondary substrate with high inhibitory substances, the model predicted the biofilm effectiveness factor to be higher than unity. On the other hand, for slightly inhibitory substances, substrate limitations within the biofilm due to mass transfer resistance resulted in a reduction in biofilm effectiveness factor as its thickness increased. In case of product inhibition, the effectiveness factor of the biofilm was always lower than one due to accumulation of product leading to higher concentrations within the biofilm than in the bulk. The generalized models developed for effectiveness factors under various conditions of inhibition can be used as a predictive tool in design of wastewater treatment systems.
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Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 6 • June 2003
Pages: 576 - 579
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 7, 2001
Accepted: Jul 21, 2002
Published online: May 15, 2003
Published in print: Jun 2003
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