Out-diffusion of fermentation products in anaerobic biofilms

The out-diffusion of the fermentation products in an anaerobic biofilm was simulated by a diffusional model. This model predicts that methane and carbon dioxide concentrations at the rear of biofilms are a function of the substrate concentration in the bulk liquid. As a result, a high substrate conc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Research journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation 1991-07, Vol.63 (5), p.773-779
Main Authors: Liu, B.Y.M. (Chemical Waste Management Inc., Geneva, IL), Pfeffer, J.T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetates
Alkalinity
ANAEROBIOSE
ANAEROBIOSIS
Biofilms
Biogas
BIOMASA
BIOMASS
BIOMASSE
BIOREACTEUR
BIOREACTORS
BIORREACTORES
Bubbles
FERMENTACION
FERMENTACION METANICA
FERMENTATION
FERMENTATION METHANIQUE
FERMENTED PRODUCTS
Kinetics
Methane
METHANE FERMENTATION
Modeling
PRODUCTOS FERMENTADOS
PRODUIT FERMENTE
Research Papers
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Summary:The out-diffusion of the fermentation products in an anaerobic biofilm was simulated by a diffusional model. This model predicts that methane and carbon dioxide concentrations at the rear of biofilms are a function of the substrate concentration in the bulk liquid. As a result, a high substrate concentration in the reactor causes super-saturated biogas concentrations at the back of biofilms. The release of the gas bubbles formed under this supersaturated condition causes excessive sloughing of the biofilm and a loss of active biomass from the reactor. Therefore, the effective way to restore an unbalanced anaerobic biofilm reactor is to decrease the feed rate so the bulk substrate concentration can be reduced to a level that will not cause this sloughing.
ISSN:1047-7624
2327-7475