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Effects of substrate loading rate on biofilm structure
Abstract
The effects of substrate surface loading rate on biofilm growth and structure were investigated by chemical, biochemical and microscopic methods. Three tubular reactors were operated at equal C:N ratio of 0.1, with substrate loading rates of 1.2, 0.6 and 0.3g-C/m(2)/day. Substrate loading positively influenced the biofilm growth rate. Denser biofilms with lower porosities were formed at higher substrate loading. Slowly growing biofilms having porous structures were found to have higher specific activities. Nitrification was suppressed under the higher substrate loading conditions even at the equal C:N ratio of 0.1, thus proving that the spatial competition between nitrifiers and heterotrophs as one limiting criteria for stable nitrification. The spatial organization of the ammonia oxidizers was biofilm structure related. The strain variability of ammonia oxidizers was substrate loading dependent. These findings suggest that substrate loading is a key parameter in determining biofilm structure and function.
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“Nevertheless, higher COD removal was observed at higher OLR, suggesting that higher organic loads speed up the microbiological activity, thus stimulating the mineralization process [36,67,70].”
From Use of biochar-based column filtration systems for greywater treatment: A systematic literature review (2022) · cites this paper as [70]
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Research works printed but not linked: 24
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Quispe, J. I. B., Campos, L. C., Mašek, O., & Bogush, A. (2022) · Journal of Water Process Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.102908 · Cited by 64
Metadata
- Authors
- Wijeyekoon, S., Mino, T., Satoh, H., & Matsuo, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Moratuwa (LK)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- Toyo University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Wijeyekoon, Suren
- Venue
- Water Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-05
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 2479-2488
- ISSN
- 0043-1354 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2085490586
- Cited by
- 132
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 4.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Water Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Process Chemistry and Technology › Odor and Emission Control Technologies
- Keywords
- biofilm structure, substrate loading rate, nitrification, ammonia oxidation, biofilm porosity, biofilm growth rate, C/N ratio
- MeSH terms
- Ammonia, Carbon, Electron Transport, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Nitrites, Nitrogen, Oxidation-Reduction, Oxygen, Temperature, Time Factors, Waste Disposal, Fluid, In Situ Hybridization, Biofilms, Water Purification, Bioreactors
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- Wijeyekoon, S., Mino, T., Satoh, H., & Matsuo, T. (2004). Effects of substrate loading rate on biofilm structure. Water Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2004.03.005
