Procedure to Quantify Biofilm Activity on Carriers Used in Wastewater Treatment Systems
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 11
Abstract
A procedure is presented for evaluating and comparing the biological activity of biofilms attached to various biofilm carriers by measurement of the glucose consumption rate. This technique allows for the economical design and selection of small particulate biofilm carriers that will maximize substrate removal when used in industrial-scale fluidized bioreactors. Methods for ensuring reproducible results are described. To support the glucose consumption rate findings, biofilm dry weights were obtained at the conclusion of activity rate experiments, and scanning electron micrographs were taken to evaluate the presence of biofilm and to view surface characteristics. Fourteen different biofilm carriers were evaluated ranging from commercially available products to novel carriers designed specifically for this study. Carriers that exhibited the highest reaction rates in descending order included: Syntrex 1220 (Kinetico, Inc.), Kaldnes Carrier Element—Modified (Kaldnes North America, Inc.), Kaldnes Carrier Element—Original (Kaldnes North America, Inc.), Macrolite Modified CEPP-02 (Kinetico, Inc.), Macrolite 357 (Kinetco, Inc.), and Virgin Foam Cubes (BB Bradley Co.). Results showed that the accumulation of biofilm depended most strongly on carrier surface properties, such as surface roughness and specific surface area. The biofilm activity as measured by glucose consumption rate correlated well with activity determinations made by COD measurements when a complex carbohydrate was used as substrate in place of glucose. Substrate consumption rates in microreactors were within of those measured in a 3-L bioreactor. The method presented here produced highly reproducible results and may be used to accurately and economically screen a large number of newly-designed carriers for application in industrial bioreactor processes.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
Funding from Kinetico, Inc., to support this research is gratefully acknowledged. The writers would also like to thank Upah Tech, Inc., for their input with microbiological ecology.
References
Araki, N., Ohashi, A., Machdar, I., and Harada, H. (1999). “Behaviors of nitrifiers in a novel biofilm reactor employing hanging sponge-cubes as attachment site.” Water Sci. Technol. 39(7), 23–31.
Becker, K. (1998). “Detachment studies on microfouling in natural biofilms on substrata with different surface tensions.” Int. Biodeter. Biodegrad., 41(1), 93–100.
Belgiorno, V., De Feo, G., and Napoli, R. (2003). “Combined carbonaceous removal and nitrification with biological aerated filters.” J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A: Toxic/Hazard. Subst. Environ. Eng., 38(10), 2147–2156.
Bos, R., van der Mei, H. C., Gold, J., and Busscher, H. J. (2000). “Retention of bacteria on a substratum surface with micro-patterned hydophobicity.” FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 189(2), 311–315 .
Breitenbucher, K., Siegl, M., Knupfer, A., and Radke, M. (1990). “Open-pore sintered glass as a high efficiency support medium in bioreactors—new results and long-term experiences achieved in high rate anaerobic digestion.” Water Sci. Technol., 22(1–2), 25–32.
Brown, D. A., Beveridge, T. J., Keevil, C. W., and Sheriff, B. L. (1998). “Evaluation of microscopic techniques to observe iron precipitation in a natural microbial biofilm.” FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 26(4), 297–310.
Chandravathanam, S., and Murthy, D. (1999). “Studies in nitrification of municipal sewage in an upflow biofilter.” Bioprocess Eng., 21(2), 117–122.
Davey, M. E., and O’Toole, G. A. (2000). “Microbial biofilms from ecology to molecular genetics.” Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., 64(4), 847–867.
Fletcher, M. (1991). “The physiological activity of bacteria attached to solid surfaces.” Adv. Microb. Physiol., 32, 53–85.
Flint, S. H., Brooks, J. D., and Bremer, P. J. (1997). “The influence of cell surface properties of thermophilic streptococci on attachment to stainless steel.” J. Appl. Microbiol., 83(4), 508–517.
Gilbert, E. S., Khlebnikov, A., Meyer-llse, W., and Keasling, J. D. (1999). “Use of soft x-ray microscopy for analysis of early-stage biofilm formations.” Water Sci. Technol., 39(7), 269–272.
Jones, D. S., Adair, C. G., Mawhinney, M., and Gorman, S. P. (1996). “Standardization and comparison of methods employed for microbial cell surface hydrophobicity and charge determination.” Int. J. Pharm., 131(1), 83–89.
Lazarova, V., and Manem, J. (1995). “Biofilm characterization and activity analysis in water and wastewater treatment.” Water Res. 29(10), 2227–2245.
Münch, E., Barr, K., Watts, S., and Keller, J. (2000). “Suspended carrier technology allows upgrading high-rate activated sludge plants for nitrogen removal via process intensification.” Water Sci. Technol. 41(4–5), 5–12.
Nation, J. L. (1983). “A new method using hexamethyldisilazzne for preparation of soft tissues for scanning electron microscopy.” Stain Technol. 58(6), 347–351.
Ødegaard, H. (2000). “Advanced compact wastewater treatment based on coagulation and moving bed biofilm process.” Water Sci. Technol., 42(12), 33–48.
Okkerse, W. J. H., Ottengraf, S. P. P., and Osinga-Kuipers, B. (2000). “Biofilm thickness variability investigated with a laser triangulation sensor.” Biotechnol. Bioeng., 70(6), 619–629.
Payraudeau, M., Pearce, A., Goldsmith, R., Bigot, B., and Wicquart, F. (2001). “Experience with an up-flow biological aerated filter (BAF) for tertiary treatment: From pilot trials to full scale implications.” Water Sci. Technol. 44(2–3), 63–68.
Rodgers, M., and Zhan, X.-M. (2004). “Biological nitrogen removal using a vertically moving biofilm system.” Bioresour. Technol.93(3), 313–319.
Salkinoja-Salonen, M. S., Hakulinen, R., Valo, R., and Apajalahti, J. (1983). “Biodegradation of recalcitrant organochlorine compounds in fixed film reactors.” Water Sci. Technol., 15, 309–319.
Sanford, B. A., Thomas, V. L., Mattingly, S. U., Ramsay, M. A., and Miller, M. M. (1995). “Lectin-biotin assay for slime present in in situ biofilm produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).” J. Ind. Microbiol., 15(3), 156–161.
Shreve, G. S., Olsen, R. H., and Vogl, T. M. (1991). “Development of pure culture biofilms of P. putida on solid supports.” Biotechnol. Bioeng., 37(6), 512–518.
Teixeira, P., and Oliveira, R. (1998). “The importance of surface properties in the selection of supports for nitrification in airlift bioreactors.” Bioprocess Eng., 19(2), 143–147.
Van Loosdrecht, M. C. M., Eikelboom, D., Gjaltema, A., Mulder, A., Tijhuis, L., and Heijnen, J. J. (1995). “Biofilm structures.” Water Sci. Technol., 32(8), 35–43.
Wimpenny, J., Manz, W., and Szewzyk, U. (2000). “Heterogeneity in biofilms.” FEMS Microbiol. Rev., 24(5), 661–671.
Yoo, I., and Kim, D. (2001). “Effects of hydraulic backwash load on effluent quality of upflow BAF.” J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A: Toxic/Hazard. Subst. Environ. Eng., 36(4), 575–585.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 30, 2004
Accepted: May 15, 2006
Published online: Nov 1, 2006
Published in print: Nov 2006
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.