Operating characteristics of aerated submerged biofilm reactors for drinking water treatment

Abstract

As the quality of raw water deteriorates, a number of additional treatment techniques have been developed and adapted to water treatment for producing a safe and aesthetically satisfactory drinking water. One of the various alternatives is to use a biological process, such as a submerged bed filter, as the first process in the treatment train followed by conventional treatment processes. Biofilm process for the pretreatment of water is suitable for advanced treatment as the biofilm can keep microorganism, at low organic concentrations. This article examines the application of biological treatment strategies to tackle the current problems of the water industry. Pilot-scale biofilm reactors were evaluated with various contaminants frequently encountered in water supplies. The studies focused on the production of biologically stable water, increased disinfectant stability, and reduced formation of disinfection by-products. Results showed that the finished water became more biologically stable even though the reduction of organics was relatively low. Biofilm grown on natural water supplies was effective in removing THMP (trihalomethane precursor) as well as taste and odour compounds, such as geosmin.

Investigation of total bacterial and ammonia-oxidizing bacterial community composition in a full-scale aerated submerged biofilm reactor for drinking water pretreatment in China

“…Bioreactors such as aerated submerged biofilm reactors enhance microbial activity for biological nutrient removal by providing a surface for indigenous water microorganisms to attach and grow. Meanwhile, it could help to reduce microbial regrowth potential and formation of carcinogenic disinfection by‐products in drinking water distribution systems (Takasaki et al , 1990; Lim & Shin, 1997). Owing to the relatively low maintenance cost and effective dissolved organic matter and ammonia removal, biological pretreatment has become an attractive additional unit process in drinking water plants in China (Wang & Liu, 1999).…”

“…Although hundreds of biological reactors have been constructed for drinking water pretreatment in China, some of the processes had fluctuating nutrient removal efficiency (Wang & Liu, 1999). While several studies have focused on the impacts of various operating characteristics and design parameters on process performance (Lim & Shin, 1997; Wu, 1999), the microbial communities in the reactors, which directly govern the substrate utilization performance of the process, are poorly understood. Recently, molecular‐based techniques have been frequently and successfully used to study the bacterial community in a variety of habitats, including freshwater lakes (Sekiguchi et al , 2002) and estuaries (Bernhard et al , 2005), biological waste water treatment plants (Cole et al , 2002; Park & Noguera, 2004; Gómez‐Villalba et al , 2006) and biofilms in drinking water distribution systems (Lipponen et al , 2004).…”

Research Status and Prospect Of Micro-polluted Water Pretreatment With Biological Aerated Filter

“…And compared with other packing processing system, BAF is not easy to be blocked [10] . Kyeong-Ho Lim from South Korea, in the 90s of the last century, began to research treatment by BAF for drinking water, efforts to control disinfection by-products formation and improve the safety of disinfection [11] . In China, although from the 90s of the 20th century ,we began extensive research on micro-polluted water by BAF pre-processing technology.…”

Degradation Investigation of Selected Taste and Odor Compounds by a UV/Chlorine Advanced Oxidation Process

“…Membrane separation can effectively remove GSM and MIB from water at a relatively high operational expense, but the issue of surficial fouling is another major concern [ 7 , 8 ]. Using a biological process alone to remove GSM and MIB is not as effective, since the biodegradation rates of GSM and MIB are slow [ 9 , 10 ]. Although activated carbon is widely used in removing GSM, MIB, and IBMP, the co-existing natural organic matters in waterbodies can reduce its adsorption capacity for T&O compounds as well as the treatment efficiency [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”