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Effects of carrier-attached biofilm on oxygen transfer efficiency in a moving bed biofilm reactor

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Abstract

Three laboratory-scale moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR) with different carrier filling ratios ranging from 40% to 60% were used to study the effects of carrier-attached biofilm on oxygen transfer efficiency. In this study, we evaluated the performance of three MBBRs in degrading chemical oxygen demand and ammonia. The three reactors removed more than 95% of NH +4 -N at an air flow-rate of 60 L·h–1. The standard oxygen transfer efficiency (αSOTE) of the three reactors was also investigated at air flow-rates ranging from 60 to 100 L·h–1. These results were compared to αSOTE of wastewater with a clean carrier (no biofilm attached). Results showed that under these process conditions, αSOTE decreased by approximately 70% as compared to αSOTE of wastewater at a different carrier-filling ratio. This indicated that the biofilm attached to the carrier had a negative effect on αSOTE. Mechanism analysis showed that the main inhibiting effects were related to biofilm flocculants and soluble microbial product (SMP). Biofilm flocs could decrease αSOTE by about 20%, and SMP could decrease αSOTE by 30%–50%.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China

    Yanling Wei, Xunfei Yin, Lu Qi, Hongchen Wang, Yiwei Gong & Yaqian Luo

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  1. Yanling Wei
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  2. Xunfei Yin
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  3. Lu Qi
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  4. Hongchen Wang
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  5. Yiwei Gong
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  6. Yaqian Luo
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Correspondence to Lu Qi.

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Wei, Y., Yin, X., Qi, L. et al. Effects of carrier-attached biofilm on oxygen transfer efficiency in a moving bed biofilm reactor. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 10, 569–577 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-015-0822-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-015-0822-x

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