The kinetic characteristics of the biomass fixed inside the porous medium in the totally mixed reactor

The characteristics of the biomass fixed inside porous medium (sponge cube) have been investigated to see whether it can be recognized as biofilm. The acrylic cube is used as control medium. Two types of flow pattern of bulk water are used in the test to examine its effect on substrate transportation. From the kinetic test, it is found that the biomass fixed inside a sponge cube has biofilm characteristics. At the condition where the diffusion phenomenon is dominant, two layers whose yield constant are different from each other are confirmed from stoichiometric study. When the sponge cube is in the counter flow, the whole biomass fixed inside the medium works at the same time. It is considered that a certain amount of water is flowing through the medium when a sponge cube is exposed to counter flow.