Indigenous bacteria are essential for the performance of bio-filters for drinking water treatment. Yet it is slow and difficult to develop biofilm in a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter with low nutritional levels in the influent, especially during winter. In this study, the biofilm development in three laboratory-scale GAC columns with different types of influent was investigated in southeast China during winter. The results indicated that nitrogen was the limiting factor for biofilm development in GAC columns for this source water. The biomass density in the column with ammonia nitrogen addition was much higher than those of the other two filters, while its microbial diversity and biological activity were lower. Moreover, the ammonia-feeding column also showed the highest removal of organic contaminants during the stable operating periods, i.e. chemical oxygen demand (CODMn), assimilable organic carbon as well as biodegradable dissolved organic carbon. Therefore, nitrogen amendment favors the formation of biofilm. It could shorten the start-up time of a GAC filter and enhance the bio-stability of its effluent. This might add some new insights towards the operation of GAC filters with low nutritional levels in the influent during winter.
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Research Article|
February 16 2016
Biomass development in GAC columns receiving influents with different levels of nutrients Available to Purchase
Xiaobin Liao;
Xiaobin Liao
1Institute of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
2School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Rusen Zou;
Rusen Zou
1Institute of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
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Chao Chen;
2School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
E-mail: [email protected]
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Baoling Yuan;
Baoling Yuan
1Institute of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
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Zhenming Zhou;
Zhenming Zhou
1Institute of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
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Hongfang Ma;
Hongfang Ma
1Institute of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China
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Xiaojian Zhang
Xiaojian Zhang
2School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Water Supply (2016) 16 (4): 1024–1032.
Article history
Received:
October 06 2015
Accepted:
January 27 2016
Citation
Xiaobin Liao, Rusen Zou, Chao Chen, Baoling Yuan, Zhenming Zhou, Hongfang Ma, Xiaojian Zhang; Biomass development in GAC columns receiving influents with different levels of nutrients. Water Supply 1 August 2016; 16 (4): 1024–1032. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2016.016
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