Process analysis of fluidized bed biofilm reactor for denitrification

A mathematical model is proposed herein to describe the dynamic behavior of the denitrification process in a fluidized bed biofilm reactor. The model basically consists of the following four submodels: bioparticles fluidization, bulk liquid flow pattern, substrate conversion within biofilm and biofilm thickness development. As for intrinsic denitrification reaction, a consecutive two-step reaction kinetics with nitrite as an intermediate product is adopted. All parameters needed for simulation were experimentally determined. Verification of the model was obtained in a dynamic state using a laboratory-scale fluidized bed denitrification reactor under well defined conditions.