title: Possible complication regarding phosphorus removal with a continuous flow biofilm system: diffusion limitation.
abstract: Diffusion limitation of phosphate possibly constitutes a serious problem regarding the use of a biofilm reactor for enhanced biological phosphorus removal. A lab-scale reactor for simultaneous removal of phosphorus and nitrate was operated in a continuous alternating mode of operation. For a steady-state operation with excess amounts of carbon source (acetate) during the anaerobic phase, the same amount of phosphate was released during the anaerobic phase as was taken up during the anoxic phase. The measured phosphorus content of the biomass that detached during backwash after an anoxic phase was low, 2.4 +/- 0.4% (equal to 24 +/- 4 mg P/g TS). A simplified computer model indicated the reason to be phosphate diffusion limitation and the model revealed a delicate balance between the obtainable phosphorus contents of the biomass and operating parameters, such as backwash interval, biofilm thickness after backwash, and phase lengths. The aspect of diffusion is considered of crucial importance when evaluating the performance of a biofilter for phosphate removal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Building 115, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Falkentoft
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arnz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henze
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mosbaek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wilderer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harremoës
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004058:Diffusion; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D010710:Phosphates / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011137:Polystyrenes
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D011137:Polystyrenes; D010758:Phosphorus