CE 521 Environmental Biotechnology

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TERM PAPER ABSTRACTS:

Improving Physical Stability and Biodegradation Capabilities of Biofilms

Eric Evans

ABSTRACT

Attached-growth bioreactors are widely used, but poorly modeled systems. Empirical models and over-designed systems are used to ensure adequate performance. Intricate biofilms with many select niches develop in trickling filters, rotating biological contactors (RBC), and fluidized bed reactors. A better understanding of biofilm structures and processes, through photographic and experimental evidence, has led to improved models. Initially, biofilms were modeled as one-dimensional and homogenous. During the past couple of decades, however, biofilms were discovered to be highly heterogeneous with a cluster and channel formation being common. Engineers and scientists realized that the growth patterns in biofilms depend on numerous variables such as the rate of diffusion, the concentration of organics in the bulk liquid layer, the rate of flow of the bulk liquid layer, and the erosion rate of the biofilm layer.

KEYWORDS

biofilm, heterogeneous, homogenous, attached growth, trickling filter, concentration boundary layer, bulk liquid layer