A simplified approach for modelling of an aerobic fixed bed hybrid bioreactor

Civil Engineering Department, Dr. Sudhir Chandra Sur Degree Engineering College, Dumdum Surer Math,

Dumdum, Kolkata-700 074, India

E-mail: ssarkar14@rediffmail.com

Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Howrah-711 103,

West Bengal, India

Manuscript received online 21 August 2019, revised 01 December 2019, accepted 02 December 2019

A simplified model pertaining to the process design of an aerobic fixed bed hybrid bioreactor has been developed in a user friendly manner. It is based on mass balance of both carbonaceous substrate and biomass under suspended and attached growth simultaneously along with substrate mass transport into the biofilm. Monod kinetics is followed for the utilization of carbonaceous substrate assuming no inhibition. The novelty in this analytical solution lies in determination of the average substrate flux considering varying substrate concentration profile inside the biofilm.The determination of effective biofilm thickness (L_e) has also been possible in this simplified model, which otherwise was not found in earlier existing ones. FORTRAN computer program is developed for obtaining the necessary outputs and the model has been validated with both the existing methods of standard literatures as well as with the experimental results. It is found a quick, easy and simpler than the existing methods.