Effect of hydrodynamic conditions on biofilm oxygen consumption rate in a fixed-bed nitrifying reactor

The effect of the hydrodynamic conditions on oxygen consumption rate was studied in a fixed-bed nitrifying reactor. For that purpose, the k_La, the overall oxygen consumption rate and the maximum biofilm respiration rate were measured under several mixing powers. It was observed that the maximum biofilm respiration rate was dependent on the hydrodynamic conditions. From the results obtained, a simplistic model was developed to predict the overall oxygen consumption rate from the mixing power applied.