Verification of the Model of Biofilm on Activated Carbon

Laboratory-scale column reactors were used to verify the model of biofilm on activated carbon (BFAC model). The effluent from the reactor was recycled so that the reactor approached a completely mixed regime. Twelve coefficients were measured independently from the column studies, while three parameters had to be assumed so that the model simulated the substrate concentration results very well. The BFAC model was verified with biofilms grown on spherical activated carbon (BACM) packed in the column reactor. The detailed sequence of the bioregeneration, modeled by the BFAC model, showed that the substrate flux in the activated carbon sequentially was positive during adsorption, was negative during bioregeneration, and approached zero toward steady state. Although the BFAC model accurately described the substrate concentration and the sequence of bioregeneration, it predicted lower effluent suspended biomass than the experimental results. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of the shearing loss of biofilms.