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Studies on Biofilm Growth, Attachment and Biokinetic Performance in Biofilters Packed with Macroporous Media

Goncalves Rodrigues, Juan Jose
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1195181457

Abstract Details

2007, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Engineering : Chemical Engineering.
The first part of this thesis encompasses fundamental studies on the attachment and growth of biofilms onto synthetic non adsorbing, macroporous solid foams aiming at supporting bioactive microorganisms in the removal of intricate hydrogen sulfide polluted airstreams in trickle bed columns at negligible pressure drop. A new theoretical model that predicts the performance of biofilters packed with non adsorbing, macroporous media was simultaneously developed based in the distribution of the fouled airstream within the porous media and around it, so that the geometric properties of the packing media can be chosen as to maximize the amount of air passing within the media where most microorganisms are located. During the experimental phase of this study, colonization of such non adsorbing, macroporous media with microorganisms was enhanced by the addition of positively charged, polymeric coatings which increase the attachment and spreading of the biofilms due to cell binding and electrostatic charge cancellation at physiological pH. Impedimetric tests using golden microelectrodes were applied separately to corroborate such results, and other cofactors reported in the Literature for the attachment of animal cells onto plastic surfaces were tested with the methodology. The use of such cofactors for biofilm attachment purposes and the impedimetric tests for the determination of the kinetics of the biofilm morphology development based in the transient change of observables such as resistance and capacitance, are the first attempts on such approaches to date. In the second part of this thesis, the macroporous, non adsorbing foams were replaced by adsorbing, reactive units of similar geometric properties but containing iron (III) (oxy)(hydr)oxides operating as adsorption towers and trickle bed biofilters. The abiotic H2S removal capability of such iron bearing media was found to be enhanced by dripping water down the bed, which allowed for complete elimination of the sulfide gas during the early acclimation period needed for bacteria to develop after such media had been seeded with activated sludge. The biological sulfide oxidation in the iron media biofilter was accomplished by the inorganic reduction of iron (III) species with H2S and following oxidation of iron (II) species into the original reactant by means of a bacterial strain never before reported to accomplish such functionality.
Dr. Rakesh Govind (Advisor)
187 p.
Biofilter; Trickle bed; Biofilm; Attachment; Polyethyleneimine; Poly-d-lysine; H2S; Hydrogen sulfide; Foam; Acidithiobacillus; Alyciclobacillus; Ferric oxide; Impedance; Capacitance; Hematite; Adsorption

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Goncalves Rodrigues, J. J. (2007). Studies on Biofilm Growth, Attachment and Biokinetic Performance in Biofilters Packed with Macroporous Media [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1195181457

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Goncalves Rodrigues, Juan Jose. Studies on Biofilm Growth, Attachment and Biokinetic Performance in Biofilters Packed with Macroporous Media. 2007. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1195181457.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Goncalves Rodrigues, Juan Jose. "Studies on Biofilm Growth, Attachment and Biokinetic Performance in Biofilters Packed with Macroporous Media." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1195181457

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1195181457
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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.