Full Description

The reaction of biofilters for drinking water treatment on assimilable organic carbon (AOC) shock-loads was investigated experimentally. Furthermore, a steady-state model for removal of biodegradable substances in these filters was developed further for dynamic simulations. The model substrates acetate and pyruvate served as surrogates for AOC in drinking water treatment. Laboratory experiments were carried out to determine kinetic and yield parameters for a mixed culture of heterotrophic bacteria from tap water growing on these substances. Other parameters needed for the modeling like bacterial affinity to the media were already known from previous experiments. The experiments showed that it takes the biofilters a few days to gain their full removal capacity after AOC shock-loads. During that time easily biodegradable substances will pass the filters, but with decreasing concentrations over time. The time needed to regain removal capacity seems to be very much dependent on the time of starvation before the step increase. Also temperature has an effect. The model is in very good agreement with the experimental results and will be used to simulate effects of other parameter changes like flow-rate and temperature in the future. Includes 15 references, figures.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 11/01/2002 Number of Pages: 14File Size: 1 file , 780 KB