Biologically active surfaces: Processes governing the formation and persistence of biofilms

Abstract

A model of the influence of toxic compounds on the biological processes in waste water treatment reactors has been developed. The model predicts the behaviour of reactors influenced by toxic compounds acting as non-competitive inhibitors. The effects of a toxic compound on a process is quantified in terms of the inhibition coefficient Ki for the compound and the reactor resistance to inhibition values. The proposed model was utilized for the analysis of data obtained in a packed bed reactor for denitrification in the presence of chromium Cr6+. The inhibition coefficient for chromium was found to be 1.2 mgl-1Cr6+ and the reactor resistance to inhibition was 2.9 mgl-1 Cr6+.