Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mathematical model for a three-phase fluidized bed biofilm reactor in wastewater treatment

  • Published:
Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 April 1999

Abstract

A mathematical model for a three phase fluidized bed bioreactor (TFBBR) was proposed to describe oxygen utilization rate, biomass concentration and the removal efficiency of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in wastewater treatment. The model consisted of the biofilm model to describe the oxygen uptake rate and the hydraulic model to describe flow characteristics to cause the oxygen distribution in the reactor. The biofilm model represented the oxygen uptake rate by individual bioparticle and the hydrodynamics of fluids presented an axial dispersion flow with back mixing in the liquid phase and a plug flow in the gas phase. The difference of settling velocity along the column height due to the distributions of size and number of bioparticle was considered. The proposed model was able to predict the biomass concentration and the dissolved oxygen concentration along the column height. The removal efficiency of COD was calculated based on the oxygen consumption amounts that were obtained from the dissolved oxygen concentration. The predicted oxygen concentration by the proposed model agreed reasonably well with experimental measurement in a TFBBR. The effects of various operating parameters on the oxygen concentration were simulated based on the proposed model. The media size and media density affected the performance of a TFBBR. The dissolved oxygen concentration was significantly affected by the superficial liquid velocity but the removal efficiency of COD was significantly affected by the superficial gas velocity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Schügerl, K. (1997) Three-phase-biofluidization—Application of three-phase fluidization in the biotechnology—A review.Chem. Eng. Sci. 52: 3661–3668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Miura, H. and Y. Kawase (1997) Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in three-phase fluidized beds with non-Newtonian fluids.Chem. Eng. Sci. 52: 4095–4104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Chatib, B., A. Grasmick, S. Elmaleh and R. B. Aim (1981), Biological wastewater treatment in a three-phase fluidised-bed reactor. p. 192–204 In: P. F. Cooper and B. Atkinson (eds.),Biological Fluidized Bed Treatment of Water and Wastewater. Ellipse Horwood Limited, Chichester, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Sutton, P. M., J. Hurvid, and M. Hoeksema (1999) Biological fluidized-bed treatment of wastewater from byproduct coking operations: Full-scale case history.Water Environ. Fed. 71: 5–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Chang, H. T., B. E. Rittmann, D. Amar, R. Hein, O. Ehlinger, and Y. Lesty (1991) Biofilm detachment mechanisms in a liquid-fluidized bed.Biotechnol. Bioeng. 38: 499–505.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Choi, J. W. (1983) A theoretical study of the oxygen reaction rate in a three-phase fluidized bed biofilm reactor, M. S. Thesis, Sogang University, Korea.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mulcahy, L. T., W. K. Shieh, and E. J. Lamotta (1980) Simplified mathematical models for a fluidized bed biofilm reactor.AIChE Symp. Ser.; Water: 273–285.

  8. Shieh, W. K., P. M. Sutton, and P. Kos (1981) Predicting reactor biomass concentration in a fluidized-bed system.J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 53: 1574–1584.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Shieh, W. K., A. M. Asce, and L. T. Mulcahy (1981) Fluidized bed for biological wastewater treatment.J. Environ. Eng. Division. EE1: 293–295.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bailey, J. E. and D. F. Ollis (1986)Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill Book Co. New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Shieh, W. K. (1980) Suggested kinetic model for the fluidized-bed biofilm reactor.Biotechnol. Bioeng. 22: 667–676.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Andrews, G. (1988) Effectiveness factors for bioparticles with monod kinetics.Chem. Eng. J., 37: B31-B37s.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. østergaad, K. and P. Fosbol (1979) Transfer of oxygen across the gas-liquid interface in gas-liquid fluidised beds.Chem. Eng. J. 3: 105–111.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dakshinamurty, P., V. Subrahmanyam, and J. N. Rao (1971) Bed porosities in gas-liquid fluidization.I. & E. C. Des. Develop. 10: 322–328.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. østergaad, K. (1968), Gas-liquid-particle operations in chemical reaction engineering. p. 71–137.In: T. B. Drew, G. R. Cokelet, J. W. Hoopes. Jr and T. Vermeulen (ed.)Adv. Chem. Eng. Vol. 7, Academic Press Inc., New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pavlica, R. T. and J. H. Olson (1970) Unified design method for continuous-contact mass transfer operations.I. & E. C., 62: 45–58.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Shah, Y. T., (1979)Gas-Liquid-Solid Reactor Design, McGraw Hill Book Co. New York. NY.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Wehner, J. F. and R. H. Wilhelm (1956) Boundary conditions of flow reactor.Chem. Eng. Sci. 6: 89–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. El-Temtany, S. A., Y. O. El-Sharnoubi, and M. M. El-Halwagi (1979) Liquid dispersion in gas-liquid fluidized Beds.Chem. Eng. J. 18: 151–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Fan, L. S. (1989)Gas-Liquid-Solid Fluidization Engineering, Butterworths, Boston, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Williamson, K. and P. I. McCarty (1976) A model of substrate utilization by bacterial films.J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 48: 281–296.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Maron, M. J. (1982)Numerical Analysis; A Practical Approach, Macmillan, New York, NY.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Metzler, C. M., G. L. Elfring and A. J. McEwen (1974) A package of computer programs for pharmacokinetic modeling.Biometrics, 30: 562–563.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Sogang University, 121-742, Seoul, Korea

    Jeong-Woo Choi, Juhong Min & Won-Hong Lee

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Cheju National University, 690-756, Cheju, Korea

    Sang Back Lee

Authors
  1. Jeong-Woo Choi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Juhong Min
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Won-Hong Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sang Back Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeong-Woo Choi.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02931915.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Choi, JW., Min, J., Lee, WH. et al. Mathematical model for a three-phase fluidized bed biofilm reactor in wastewater treatment. Biotechnol. Bioprocess Eng. 4, 51–58 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931914

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931914

Key words

Search

Navigation