Early fouling biofilm formation in a turbulent flow system: overall kinetics

Abstract

An empirical expression is presented which describes the rate of fouling biofilm development from clean surface conditions to the onset of fluid frictional resistance increase. Experiments were conducted in a CSTR with internal recycle; a system which provided control of biological activity in the bulk fluid while simulating turbulent flow conditions. Primary biofilm accumulation rate is described by a first order expression in which the rate coefficient is a function of suspended biomass concentration, Reynolds number, and suspended biomass growth rate.