A technique using a membrane flow cell to determine average mass transfer coefficients and tortuosity factors in biofilms.
Average mass transfer coefficients of an inert compound (LiCI) within denitrifying biofilms were monitored during biofilm growth in a membrane flow cell under different flow conditions, until the biofilm reached (pseudo-) steady state. Average effective diffusivities were found to increase with the decrease tortuosity factors of the biofilm matrix. The lowest tortuosity factor corresponded the highest liquid velocity.
García López
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Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of A Coruña, Spain.
Veiga
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Nogueira
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Aparicio
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Melo
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D018441:Biofilms; D004058:Diffusion; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014872:Water Movements
D008567:Membranes, Artificial