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MODELING CHEMICAL INTERACTIONS IN ANAEROBIC BIOFILM SYSTEMS
Citation:
Flora, J., M. Suidan, P. Biswas, AND G.D. Sayles. MODELING CHEMICAL INTERACTIONS IN ANAEROBIC BIOFILM SYSTEMS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/A-94/052 (NTIS PB94159290), 1993.
Description:
Rigorous steady-state models of acetate- and methanol-utilizing methanogenic biofilms are developed taking into account the mass transfer of neutral and ionic species, pH changes within the biofilm, pH-dependent Monod kinetics, chemical equilibrium,, electronueutrality, gas production within the biofilm, and the presence of a concentration boundary layer (CBL). n traditional biofilm models, the pH is assumed to be constant within the biofilm. his study shows that significant differences can exist between the flux predictions using the traditional models and when pH changes within the biofilm are taken into account. he optimum pH for acetate- and methanol-utilizing biofilms is less than and greater that the optimum defined for suspended-growth systems, respectively. he biofilm models are coupled to a model of a completely-stirred tank reactor (CSTR), and strategies for the optimization of biofilm reactor performance are examined. or a fixed set of operating conditions, an optimum influent pH can be defined that corresponds to the maximum removal efficiency and flux of substrate into the biofilm.
