Modeling of Biological Activity in Expanded-Bed, Anaerobic Activated Carbon Filters

Biofilm mathematical models for single-stage substrate and two-stage substrate utilization were developed and verified for expanded-bed, anaerobic activated carbon filters. The concepts of liquid-layer mass transport, biofilm molecular diffusion, and Monod kinetics were incorporated in developing the models. Acetate was the single-stage substrate studied while phenol was examined in parallel and modeled as the two-stage substrate. After 849 days of continuous operation, four steady-state conditions were obtained for the acetate-fed anaerobic filter covering a wide range of feed acetate concentration. Four steady-state operating conditions were also obtained from the phenol-fed anaerobic filter under equivalent COD loadings. Biofilm models were solved using experimental data collected after the initiation of the carbohydrate test. Best estimate values of k(,a), K(,sa), and X(,a) were obtained by constructing confidence regions using the single-stage substrate biofilm model. The biofilm was found to be fully penetrated in the acetate-fed anaerobic filter. The two-stage substrate biofilm model was solved using k(,p) and K(,sp) values estimated by assuming fully penetrated biofilm. Both models predicted biomass very well for a shorter hydraulic retention time. Very high organic removal efficiencies, long mean cell residence times, as well as very low concentrations of effluent suspended solids were characteristic features noted from the anaerobic activated carbon filters.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Environmental Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Wang, Yi-Tin

• Engineering, Civil

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8502337

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/69942