Abstract
With the exception of some strict kinetic formalism, biofilm thickness constitutes a basic parameter for analyzing the mechanisms of mass transfer as a result of microbiological growth. A research gap exists, however, related to a constant (in time) biofilm thickness, a biofilm age and the system efficiency, namely the study of a biological fixed-film reactor operated with a constant biofilm age and thickness. The present work examined the influence of the biofilm age and thickness in the biodegradation process of an organic substrate. Biofilm thickness was related and measured indirectly by introducing the concept of biofilm age. This concept is commonly used in suspended biomass but is usually disregarded in fixed systems (solids retention time). In some recent studies, solids retention time is referred to only as a result of operation conditions and not a design parameter. By contrast, this work studied biofilms in a range of ages from 0.5–1 day to 5–6 days, allowing behavior comparisons of reactors operated at constant film thickness, contrary to usual procedures in continuous fixed biomass systems. A clear differentiation of microbial profiles (performed using the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique) was found for the different biofilm ages. The results showed that biofilm age can significantly influence substrate removal and those ages 0.5–1 day, 4–5 days, and 5–6 days had the most favorable results with higher substrate removal rates, indicating that operating the biomass systems with a controlled age may be advantageous. In addition to the potential benefits of efficiency, such an operation would also significantly reduce the suspended matter in the final stage of sedimentation because at those ages is not likely to experience significant biofilm detachment.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
CENSE is financed by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P., Portugal (UID/AMB/04085/2019).
References
Amann, R. I., B. J. Binder, R. J. Olson, S. W. Chisholm, R. Devereux, and D. A. Stahl. 1990. “Combination of 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes with flow cytometry for analyzing mixed microbial populations.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56 (6): 1919–1925.
Amann, R. I., W. Ludwig, and K.-H. Schleifer. 1995. “Phylogenetic identification and in situ detection of individual microbial cells without cultivation.” Microbiol. Rev. 59 (1): 143–169.
APHA (American Public Health Association). 2005. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater American public health association. 21st ed. Washington, DC: APHA.
Boaventura, R. A., and A. E. Rodrigues. 1988. “Consecutive reactions in fluidized-bed biological reactors: Modeling and experimental study of wastewater denitrification.” Chem. Eng. Sci. 43 (10): 2715–2728. https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-2509(88)80015-0.
Button, D. K. 1985. “Kinetics of nutrient-limited transport and microbial growth.” Microbial. Rev. 49 (3): 270–297.
Chang, I., E. S. Gilbert, N. Eliashberg, and J. D. Keasling. 2003. “A three dimensional, stochastic simulation of biofilm growth and transport-related factors that affect structure.” Microbiology 149 (10): 2859–2871. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.26211-0.
Chaudhry, M. A. S., and S. A. Beg. 1998. “Review on the mathematical modeling of biofilm processes: Advances in fundamentals of biofilm modeling.” Chem. Eng. Technol. 21 (9): 701–710. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1521-4125(199809)21:9%3C701::AID-CEAT701%3E3.0.CO;2-L.
Cortez, S., P. Teixeira, R. Oliveira, and M. Mota. 2008. “Rotating biological contactors: A review on main factors affecting performance.” Rev. Environ. Sci. Biotech. 7 (2): 155–172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-008-9127-x.
Daims, H., A. Brühl, R. Amann, K.-H. Schleifer, and M. Wagner. 1999. “The domain-specific probe EUB338 is insufficient for the detection of all bacteria: Development and evaluation of a more comprehensive probe set.” Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 22 (3): 434–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0723-2020(99)80053-8.
de Beer, D., and P. Stoodley. 2006. “Microbial biofilms.” In The prokaryotes. Edited by M. Dworkin, S. Falkow, E. Rosenberg, K. H. Schleifer, and E. Stackebrandt, 904–937. New York: Springer.
Deront, M., F. M. Samb, N. Adler, and P. Péringer. 1998. “Biomass growth monitoring using pressure drop in a concurrent biofilter” Biotechnol. Bioeng. 60 (1): 97–104. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(19981005)60:1%3C97::AID-BIT11%3E3.0.CO;2-5.
Dutta, S. 2007. “Mathematical modeling of the performance of a rotating biological contactor for process optimisation in wastewater treatment.” Ph.D. thesis, Fakultät für Bauingenieur-, Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften, Universität Fridericiana zu Karlsruhe.
Gibbs, J. T., and P. L. Bishop. 1995. “A method for describing biofilm surface roughness using geostatistical techniques.” Water Sci. Technol. 32 (8): 91–98. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.1995.0271.
Hassard, F., J. Biddle, E. Cartmell, B. Jefferson, S. Tyrrel, and T. Stephenson. 2015. “Rotating biological contactors for wastewater treatment: A review.” Proc. Saf. Environ. Prot. 94: 285–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2014.07.003.
Hinson, R. K., and W. M. Kocher. 1996. “Model for effective diffusivities in aerobic biofilms.” J. Environ. Eng. 122 (11): 1023–1030. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1996)122:11(1023).
Hu, M., T. C. Zhang, J. Stansbury, J. Neal, and E. J. Garboczi. 2013. “Determination of porosity and thickness of biofilm attached on irregular-shaped media.” J. Environ. Eng. 139 (7): 923–931. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000699.
Hung, C., Y. Zhou, J. S. Pinkner, K. W. Dodson, J. R. Crowley, J. Heuser, M. R. Chapman, M. Hadjifrangiskou, J. P. Henderson, and S. J. Hultgren. 2013. “Escherichia coli biofilms have an organized and complex extracellular matrix structure.” MBio 4 (5): e00645–13. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00645-13.
Huston, M. A., D. L. DeAngelis, and W. Post. 1998. “New computer models unify ecological theory.” BioScience 38 (10): 682–691. https://doi.org/10.2307/1310870.
Khan, M., T. Chapman, and K. A. Cochran. 2013. “Schuler Attachment surface energy effects on nitrification and estrogen removal rates by biofilms for improved wastewater treatment.” Water Res. 47 (7): 2190–2198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2013.01.036.
Kreft, J. U., C. Picioreanu, J. W. T. Wimpenny, and M. C. M. van Loosdrecht. 2001. “Individual-based modelling of biofilms.” Microbiology 147 (11): 2897–2912. https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-147-11-2897.
Laspidou, C. S., and B. E. Rittmann. 2004. “Modeling the development of biofim density including active bacteria, inert biomass, and extracellular polymeric substances.” Water Res. 38 (14–15): 3349–3361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2004.04.037.
Manz, W., R. Amann, W. Ludwig, M. Vancanneyt, and K.-H. Schleifer. 1996. “Application of a suite of 16S rRNA-specific oligonucleotide probes designed to investigate bacteria of the phylum cytophaga- flavobacter-bacteroides in the natural environment.” Microbiology 142 (5): 1097–1106. https://doi.org/10.1099/13500872-142-5-1097.
Manz, W., R. Amann, W. Ludwig, M. Wagner, and K.-H. Schleifer. 1992. “Phylogenetic oligodeoxynucleotide probes for the major subclasses of Proteobacteria: Problems and solutions.” Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 15 (4): 593–600. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0723-2020(11)80121-9.
Maurício, R. 2009. “Contribuição para o Estudo de Biofilmes de Espessura Controlada—Idade do Biofilme (study of biofilms with controlled thickness—Biofilm age).” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, FCT–UNL.
Maurício, R., C. J. Dias, and F. Santana. 2006. “Monitoring biofilm thickness using a non-destructive, on-line, electrical capacitance technique.” Environ. Monit. Assess. 119 (1–3): 599–607. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-9045-0.
Meier, H., R. Amann, W. Ludwig, and K.-H. Schleifer. 1999. “Specific oligonucleotide probes for in situ detection of a major group of gram-positive bacteria with low DNA G+C content.” Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 22 (2): 186–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0723-2020(99)80065-4.
Metcalf and Eddy. 2003. Wastewater engineering: Treatment and reuse. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited.
Möhle, R., and T. Langemann. 2007. “Structure and shear strength of microbial biofilms as determined with confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluid dynamic gauging using a novel rotating disc biofilm.” Biotechnol. Bioeng. 98 (4): 747–755. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.21448.
Motlagh, A. R., V. R. Voller, and M. J. Semmens. 2006. “Advective flow through membrane-aerated biofilms modeling results” J. Membr. Sci. 273 (1–2): 143–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2005.12.039.
Noguera, D. R., and E. Morgenroth. 2004. “Introdution to the IWA Task Group on Biofilm Modeling” Water Sci. Technol. 49 (11–12): 131–136. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2004.0822.
Oehmen, A., Z. Yuan, L. L. Blackall, and J. Keller. 2005. “Comparison of acetate and propionate uptake by polyphosphate accumulating organisms and glycogen accumulating organisms.” Biotechnol. Bioeng. 91 (2): 162–168. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.20500.
Picioreanu, C., J. U. Kreft, and M. C. M. van Loosdrecht. 2004. “Particle-based multidimensional multispecies biofilm model.” App. Environ. Microbiol. 70 (5): 3024–3040. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.70.5.3024-3040.2004.
Pizarro, G. E., C. Garcia, R. Moreno, and M. E. Sepulveda. 2004. “Two-dimensional cellular automaton model for mixed-culture biofilm.” Water Sci. Technol. 49 (11–12): 193–198. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2004.0839.
Rittmann, B. E., and P. L. McCarty. 2001. Environmental biotechnology: Principles and applications. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Rittmann, B. E., A. O. Schwarz, H. J. Eberl, E. Morgenroth, J. Perez, M. van Loosdrecht, and O. Wanner. 2004. “Results from the multi-species Benchmark Problem (BM3) using one-dimensional models.” Water Sci. Technol. 49 (11–12): 163–168. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2004.0831.
Roller, C., M. Wagner, R. Amann, W. Ludwig, and K.-H. Schleifer. 1994. “In situ probing of gram-positive bacteria with high DNA G+C content using 23S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotides.” Microbiology 140 (10): 2849–2858. https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-140-10-2849.
Rosário, A. C. 2009. “Caracterização de populações microbianas em reactores ‘Jet-Loop’ para tratamento de efluentes agro-industriais.” Ph.D. thesis, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa.
Scott, J. P., and D. F. Ollis. 1996. “Engineering models of combined chemical and biological processes.” J. Environ. Eng. 122 (12): 1110–1114. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1996)122:12(1110).
Seker, S., H. Beyenal, and A. Tanyolac. 1995. “The effects of biofilm thickness on biofilm density and substrate consumption rate in a differential fluidized bed biofilm reactor (DFBBR).” J. Biotechnol. 41 (1): 39–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1656(95)00050-Z.
Shiraishi, F., B. Zippel, T. R. Neu, and G. Arp. 2008. “In situ detection of bacteria in calcified biofilms using FISH and CARD-FISH”. J. Microbiol. Methods 75 (1): 103–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2008.05.015.
Singh, A. V., V. Vyas, R. Patil, V. Sharma, P. E. Scopelliti, G. Bongiorno, A. Podestà, C. Lenardi, W. N. Gade, and P. Milani. 2011. “Quantitative characterization of the influence of the nanoscale morphology of nanostructured surfaces on bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation.” PLoS One 6 (9): e25029. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0025029.
Stewart, P. 2003. “Diffusion in biofilms.” J. Bacteriol. 185 (5): 1485–1491. https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.185.5.1485-1491.2003.
Torresi, E., S. J. Fowler, F. Polesel, K. Bester, H. R. Andersen, B. F. Smets, B. G. Plósz, and M. Christensson. 2016. “Biofilm thickness influences biodiversity in nitrifying MBBRs—Implications on micropollutant removal.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 50 (17): 9279–9288. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b02007.
Turki, Y., I. Mehri, R. Lajnef, A. B. Rejab, A. Khessairi, H. Cherif, H. Ouzari, and A. Hassen. 2017. “Biofilms in bioremediation and wastewater treatment: Characterization of bacterial community structure and diversity during seasons in municipal wastewater treatment process.” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int. 24 (4): 3519–3530. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8090-2.
Vasiliadou, I. A., R. Molina, F. Martínez, and J. A. Melero. 2014. “Experimental and modeling study on removal of pharmaceutically active compounds in rotating biological contactors.” J. Hazard. Mater. 274: 473–482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.04.034.
Wagner, M., M. Horn, and H. Daims. 2003. “Fluorescence in situ hybridisation for the identification and characterisation of prokaryotes.” Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 6 (3): 302–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1369-5274(03)00054-7.
Wallner, G., R. Amann, and W. Beisker. 1993. “Optimizing fluorescent in situ hybridization with rRNA- targeted oligonucleotide probes for flow cytometric identification of microorganisms.” Cytometry 14 (2): 136–143. https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.990140205.
Wanner, O., and E. Morgenroth. 2004. “Biofilm modeling with AQUASIM.” Water Sci. Technol. 49 (11–12): 137–144. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2004.0824.
Wasche, S., H. Horn, and D. C. Hempel. 2002. “Influence of growth conditions on biofilm development and mass transfer at the bulk/biofilm interface.” Water Res. 36 (19): 4775–4784https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(02)00215-4.
Wolf, W., C. Picioreanu, and M. C. M. van Loosdrecht. 2007. “Kinetic modeling of photototrophic biofilms: The Phobia model.” Biotechnol. Bioeng. 97 (5): 1064–1079. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.21306.
Wuertz, S., S. Okabe, and M. Hausner. 2004. “Microbial communities and their interactions in biofilm systems: An overview.” Water Sci. Technol. 49 (11–12): 327–336. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2004.0873.
Yoon, H., G. Klinzing, and H. W. Blanch. 1977. “Competition for mixed substrates by microbial populations.” Biotechnol. Bioeng. 19 (8): 1193–1210. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.260190809.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 145 • Issue 6 • June 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 16, 2018
Accepted: Oct 30, 2018
Published online: Mar 18, 2019
Published in print: Jun 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Aug 18, 2019
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bacteria
- Biofilm
- Biological processes
- Biomass
- Energy engineering
- Energy sources (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Environmental engineering
- Fuels
- Geology
- Geotechnical engineering
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Mathematics
- Microbes
- Non-renewable energy
- Organisms
- Parameters (statistics)
- Pollutants
- Renewable energy
- Statistics
- Substrates
- Thickness
- Waste management
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.