Testing an aerobic fluidized biofilm process to treat intermittent flows of oil polluted wastewater

Aerobic fluidized biofilm process

Abstract

An aerobic fluidized biofilm process of treating oil-polluted wastewater has been studied. A series of batch experiments were conducted and the kinetic coefficients were evaluated for efficient operation of fluidized bed bioreactor (FBBR). It was observed that up to 1500 mg/L oil (Motor oil SAE–40) could be degraded in a FBBR. The experiments, however, were limited to the oil concentration within a range of 1000-2600 mg/L. Average biofilm thickness (d) under specific conditions was found to be 22 mm and average oil degradation rate of 0.053 mg oil/mg biomass/hour was measured in the FBBR. The results also support that the increase in the concentration of oil in the treatment process reduced significantly the degradation rate of non-oil carbon.