Modelling of Submerged and Aerated Filters

Biofilm processes have been profusely used during the last ten years. This, due to the more and more rigorous standards for wastewater treatment and the necessity of a better use of the space. Biofilm processes include the "submerged fixed bed reactors". Such reactors are characterized by their high buffer capacity as a consequence of the organic load fluctuations originated by the high capacity of adsorption of the biofilm. This paper shows the modeling of an aerated fixed bed submerged reactor at pilot plant scale, for the treatment of a synthetic substrate. An experiment design was used. Operational variables used were organic matter concentration as COD, hydraulic retention time, packing area and aeration level.