Composition and activity of a denitrifying biofilm along an anoxic RBC reactor

Abstract

The variation of the biofilm characteristics of an anoxic rotating biological contactor, formed under a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 2, were studied. The biofilm activity was assessed in terms of the substrate removal ability and it showed a decrease along the reactor. Parameters as thickness, dry weight, density and specific components (proteins and polysaccharides) were also quantified. These properties were determined in biofilm portions from different parts of the RBC reactor. They show a different trend of variation along the bioreactor.