Modeling of mass transfer in biofilms in oscillatory flow conditions using k-ɛ turbulence model

The objective of this research is to investigate mass transfer mechanism in biofilms under oscillatory flow conditions. Numerical simulation of turbulence near a biofilm was conducted using the low Reynold’s number k-ɛ turbulence model. Substrate transfer in biofilms under oscillatory flow conditions was assumed to be carried out by turbulent diffusion caused by fluid movement and substrate concentration profile in biofilm was calculated. An experiment was carried out to measure velocity profile near a biofilm under oscillatory flow conditions and the influence of the turbulence on substrate uptake rate by the biofilm was also measured. Measured turbulence was in good agreement with the calculated one and the influence of the turbulence on the substrate uptake rate was well explained by the simulation.