A COMPREHENSIVE DYNAMIC-MODEL OF ATTACHED GROWTH ANAEROBIC FERMENTERS

The model described here involves a highly mechanistic view of anaerob ic attached growth processes, considering a four-culture microbial pop ulation interacting with and transforming six metabolic substrates in two distinct reactor regions. These regions include 1) the biofilm zon e, which is a thin layer consisting of highly concentrated bacterial m ass embedded within a polysaccharide matrix; and 2) the bulk liquid re gion, corresponding to the interstitial volume surrounding the biomass support media. Mathematical descriptions of bacterial population dyna mics and associated substrate transformation rates in both of these re gions are presented. This model, because of its detailed description o f fundamental processes in attached growth fermentation systems, provi des an analytical tool for exploring both porous and solid media anaer obic reactor systems.