Operating parameters for a gas–liquid–solid fluidised bed bioreactor with a low density biomass support

Aerobic treatment of wastewaters in the inverse fluidised bed biofilm reactor

“…Sokół [12] has reported a 95% removal of total COD in aerobic treatment of brewery wastewater in a TFBBR with low density biomass support. In other work, Sokół [13] has achieved a 90% COD reduction in aerobic treatment of highly toxic refinery wastewater in a TFBBR containing particles made of polypropylene.…”

Phenolic wastewater treatment in a three‐phase fluidised bed bioreactor containing low density particles

“…A schematic illustration of a TPFBB for wastewater treatment is shown in Fig 1. In a bioreactor with low density particles, fluidisation can be conducted either by an upward cocurrent flow of gas and liquid through a bed (Fig 1)5, 7 or by a downward flow of liquid and countercurrent upward flow of gas 10, 11. In both cases, an inverse fluidisation occurs, that is, the fluidised bed expands downwards.…”

“…In both cases, an inverse fluidisation occurs, that is, the fluidised bed expands downwards. In the former, fluidisation is achieved by an upward flow of gas 5, 7. The gas bubbles make the bed expand downwards into the less dense mixture of gas and liquid.…”

“…Phenols (monohydric and polyhydric) and derivatised phenols are among the greatest biohazards to the environment 1, 2. A three‐phase (gas–liquid–solid) fluidised bed bioreactor (TPFBB) has been successfully applied to aerobic biological treatment of industrial and municipal wastewaters 3–5. The TPFBB has an inherent advantage over the two‐phase (liquid–solid) fluidised bed bioreactor due to the improved supply of oxygen to microorganisms and the elimination of the need for pre‐aeration of the liquid 3, 5…”

“…The application of low density particles (matrix particle density smaller than that of water) in a TPFBB allows the control of biomass loading in the bioreactor 5–10. Sokół and Halfani7 have reported that the steady state biomass loading was achieved in a TPFBB with polypropylene particles after about 2 weeks of culturing and was practically constant over the period of a 9‐month operation.…”