Fixed Biomass Activity in Aerobic Biological Reactors Used for Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Experimental runs were carried out on an upflow fixed-bed reactor. The process cycle of 24 hours was determined by following head losses used as an indicator of the clogging of the filter and of the biomass growth. Thanks to a protocol of dispersion of the biomass present into the filter, two fractions defined as fixed and shared biomass were obtained. The specific dehydrogenase activities or the specific oxygen uptake rates of the dispersed biomass were always greater than those of the fixed biomass. The aggregation of the biomass into the reactor prevents its potential activity being used to the full.