title: A biofilm model for engineering design.
abstract: A biofilm model is presented for process engineering purposes--wastewater treatment plant design, upgrade and optimisation. The model belongs in the 1D dynamic layered biofilm model category, with modifications that allow it to be used with one parameter set for a large range of process situations. The biofilm model is integrated with a general activated sludge/anaerobic digestion model combined with a chemical equilibrium, precipitation and pH module. This allows the model to simulate the complex interactions that occur in the aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic layers of the biofilm. The model has been tested and is shown to match a variety of design guidelines, as well as experimental results from batch testing and full-scale plant operation. Both moving bed bioreactors (MBBR) and integrated fixed film activated sludge (IFAS) systems were simulated using the same model and parameter set. A new steady-state solver generates fast solutions and allows interactive design work with the complex model.
authors.affiliation: EnviroSim Associates Ltd., 7 Innovation Drive, Flamborough, Ontario L9H 7H9, Canada.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takács
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bye
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Dold
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fairlamb
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors; D004738:Engineering; D008954:Models, Biological; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000641:Ammonia