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A wastewater treatment using a biofilm airlift suspension reactor with biomass attached to supports: a numerical model

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Abstract

A mathematical model of the biological process occurring in a modified biofilm airlift suspension reactor is presented. When compared with a traditional wastewater treatment plant, a biofilm airlift suspension process has major advantages, such as higher oxygen levels in the bulk fluid and lower space requirements. The limited volumes obtained with this technique generally do not allow to reach the high times of contact required for an efficient removal of nitrogen that normally are characterized by a slower kinetics than carbonaceous compounds. To avoid this problem, supports for attached biomass growth were inserted in the reactor. Both physical and biological aspects were incorporated into the presented model to simulate the removal processes of the substrates. A sensitivity analysis was performed, and the model was validated using experimental results obtained at a lab-scale plant. This model can accurately estimate the removal rate in different boundary conditions providing the details of the water quality profiles through the reactor and in the attached biomass. The model thus represents a valid aid for design purposes and for the management of treatment plants that use these uncommon reactors. The model also provides the required hydraulic retention time for a complete nitrification and the appropriate recirculation ratio. The results have shown the full-scale applicability of this treatment due to its efficiencies coupled to the advantages of its low impact, low space requirement and low sludge production.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge P&M Srl for providing data information for the design at full scale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development - RC Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy

    A. Luciano

  2. Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, University of Catania, Via A Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy

    G. Mancini

  3. Department of Science and High Technology, Insubria University of Varese, Via G.B. Vico 46, 21100, Varese, Italy

    V. Torretta

  4. Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering (DICEA), Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy

    P. Viotti

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  1. P. Viotti
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  2. A. Luciano
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  4. V. Torretta
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Correspondence to A. Luciano.

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Viotti, P., Luciano, A., Mancini, G. et al. A wastewater treatment using a biofilm airlift suspension reactor with biomass attached to supports: a numerical model. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 11, 571–588 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0256-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0256-6

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