Microbial Reduction of Perchlorate in Fixed Bed Biofilm Reactors for Water Treatment

The concept of biofilm structures (thin biofilm and large microbial aggregates) growing in porous media and their effect on the responses of a BAC to changes in influent dissolved oxygen (DO) levels was studied. The effect of mass transfer resistance that can reduce oxygen's negative effect on biological perchlorate removal was discussed. Chemisorption of oxygen onto GAC was found to enhance the performance of BAC under sudden increases in influent DO. A mathematical biofilm model describing the competition between PRB and other heterotrophic bacteria and the effect of mass transfer was developed. Parameter estimation was performed using a modified Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) approach. The model is used to evaluate the influence of mass transfer limitations on PRB growth and perchlorate removal. Backwashing with strong intensities was found to impact biofilm reactor's performance by the removal of large microbial aggregates and on the overall abundance of PRB in the system.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civl and Environmental Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Choi, Young Chul

Contributors dc:contributor

• Eberhard Morgenroth

• Engineering, Environmental

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3202076

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/83283