A STUDY ON MICROBIOLOGY OF BIOLOGICAL FILM LAYER IN ROTATING BIOLOGICAL CONTACTORS

Experimental studies were carried out for upgrading the secondary trea ted domestic sewage effluent using the Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC);ss an unit process in the premises of the existing water reclama tion plant of Satellite Centre Building Complex of Indian Space Resear ch Organisation at Bangalore. As part of these studies, a brief study was carried out on the microbiological aspects of the biological slime layer developed in the RBC. This study included observations on the d evelopment of the biological film on wetted disc surfaces of RBC, meas urement of the thickness of the biological film, a discussion on signi ficance of biofilm thickness in substrate removal, effect of wastewate r characteristics on the thickness of biofilm and determination of MLS S/MLVSS ratio of biological film obtained in RBC reactor used for upgr ading the secondary effluent. The results of these studies are present ed in this paper The results of identification of species of micro-org anisms predominant in the biological slime layer in the RBC used for u pgradation of secondary treated effluent are discussed separately in a nother paper.