Rm. Hozalski et Ej. Bouwer, Non-steady state simulation of BOM removal in drinking water biofilters: Model development, WATER RES, 35(1), 2001, pp. 198-210
A numerical model was developed to simulate the non-steady-state behavior o
f biologically-active filters used for drinking water treatment. The biofil
ter simulation model called "BIOFILT" simulates the substrate (biodegradabl
e organic matter or BOM) and biomass (both attached and suspended) profiles
in a biofilter as a function of time. One of the innovative features of BI
OFILT compared to previous biofilm models is the ability to simulate the ef
fects of a sudden loss in attached biomass or biofilm due to filter backwas
h on substrate removal performance. A sensitivity analysis of the model inp
ut parameters indicated that the model simulations were most sensitive to t
he values of parameters that controlled substrate degradation and biofilm g
rowth and accumulation including the substrate diffusion coefficient, the m
aximum rate of substrate degradation, the microbial yield coefficient. and
a dimensionless shear loss coefficient. Variation of the hydraulic loading
rate or other parameters that controlled the deposition of biomass via filt
ration did not significantly impact the simulation results. (C) 2000 Elsevi
er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.