Effect of Roughness and Thickness of Biofilms on External Mass Transfer Resistance

by Tian C. Zhang, Univ of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States,
Paul L. Bishop, (M.ASCE), Univ of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States,
James T. Gibbs, Univ of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Critical Issues in Water and Wastewater Treatment

Abstract:

The effect of roughness and thickness of biofilms on the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration boundary layer thickness (DO CBLT) and the external mass transfer process in a biofilm system were investigated using a microelectrode technique. The experimental results indicated that (a) an increase of biofilm roughness would reduce the external mass transfer resistance; and (b) the absolute roughness increased with an increase in the biofilm maximum thickness, but this increase diminished when the biofilm thickness exceeded 1200 μm. The microelectrode technique is a useful tool to study the external mass transfer process.

Subject Headings: Biofilm | Thickness | Mass transfer | Load and resistance factor design | Dissolved oxygen | Boundary layers | Oxygen transfer | Materials processing

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