This work presents a mathematical model to describe the biodegradation of phenolic wastewater in a fixed-biofilm process. The model incorporates diffusive mass transport and Haldane kinetics mechanisms. The model was solved using a combination of the orthogonal collocation method and Gear's method. A laboratory-scale column reactor was employed to verify the model. Batch kinetic tests were conducted independently to determine biokinetic parameters for the model simulation with the initial biofilm thickness assumed. The model simulated the phenol effluent concentration results well. Removal efficiency for phenol was approximately 94–96.5% for different hydraulic retention times at a steady-state condition. Model simulations results are in agreement with experimental results. The approaches of model and experiments presented in this paper could be used to design a pilot-scale or full-scale fixed-biofilm reactor system for the biodegradation of phenolic wastewater from petrochemical and oil refining plants.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
May 01 2009
Kinetics of biodegradation of phenolic wastewater in a biofilm reactor
Yen-Hui Lin;
1Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 11, Bu-zih Lane, Bei-tun District, Taichung 40601, Taiwan, Chinese Taiwan E-mail: yhlin1@ctust.edu.tw
E-mail: yhlin1@ctust.edu.tw
Search for other works by this author on:
Tzu-Yang Hsien
Tzu-Yang Hsien
2General Education Center, China University of Technology, 56, Section 3, Shinglung Road, Wenshan Chiu, Taipei 116, Taiwan, Chinese Taiwan E-mail: tzhsian@cute.edu.tw
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Sci Technol (2009) 59 (9): 1703–1711.
Citation
Yen-Hui Lin, Tzu-Yang Hsien; Kinetics of biodegradation of phenolic wastewater in a biofilm reactor. Water Sci Technol 1 May 2009; 59 (9): 1703–1711. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2009.203
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.