Biofilms In Wastewater Treatment

The central theme of the book is the flow of information from experimental approaches in biofilm research to simulation and modeling of complex wastewater systems. Probably the greatest challenge in wastewater research lies in using the methods and the results obtained in one scientific discipline to design intelligent experiments in other disciplines, and eventually to improve the knowledge base the practitioner needs to run wastewater treatment plants. The purpose of Biofilms in Wastewater Treatment is to provide engineers with the knowledge needed to apply the new insights gained by researchers. The authors provide an authoritative insight into the function of biofilms on a technical and on a lab-scale, cover some of the exciting new basic microbiological and wastewater engineering research involving molecular biology techniques and microscopy, and discuss recent attempts to predict the development of biofilms. This book is divided into 3 sections: Modeling and Simulation; Architecture, Population Structure and Function; and From Fundamentals to Practical Application, which all start with a scientific question. Individual chapters attempt to answer the question and present different angles of looking at problems. In addition there is an extensive glossary to familiarize the non-expert with unfamiliar terminology used by microbiologists and computational scientists. The colour plate section of this book can be downloaded by clicking here. (PDF Format 1 MB)

Biofilms represent the natural living style of microbial communities and play a pivotal role in biogeochemical cycles and natural attenuation. Biofilms can be engineered for biodegradation and biotransformation of organic and inorganic contaminants, for both in situ bioremediation and ex situ treatment in bioreactors. This book focuses on microbial biofilms and their potential technological applications for sustainable development. It covers recent advances in biofilm technologies for contaminant remediation coupled to recovery of resources and serves as a complete reference on the science and technology behind biofilm mediated bioremediation and wastewater treatment.

Intensifying Activated Sludge Using Media-Supported Biofilms will be of interest to practicing wastewater treatment process designers, along with those seeking more compact and energy-efficient wastewater treatment options. The advantages of Moving Bed Biological Reactor (MBBR)-based hybrid processes are now well-established in practice, leading to their increased use in the field. Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR)-based hybrid processes are much newer and offer further systematic process and energy advantages. This book examines the evolution of hybrid technologies as well as the potential for continued improvement of biological wastewater treatment techniques. Features: Reviews current approaches for intensifying biological wastewater treatment processes and their mechanistic bases. Examines hybrid suspended growth/biofilm-based wastewater treatment processes, including the newly-developed MABR-based processes, and their unique dynamic performance characteristics. Presents a novel method for characterizing the performance and process intensification advantages of hybrid processes. Provides guidance for simulating the performance of hybrid processes, including oxygen transfer in MABR hybrid processes.

Our rivers and lakes are continuously self-purifying thanks to algal and bacterial biofilms that grow over the surface of stones and other debris. This same process has been employed for over a century to treat our municipal and industrial wastewater in specially designed fixed film reactors that maximize this microbial activity by providing ideal growth conditions and unlimited food and oxygen. Fixed film, or attached biofilm, reactors are unique in their ability to treat complex wastewaters and shock loadings; using far less energy than other wastewater treatment processes such as activated sludge, making them a sustainable treatment option.Targeted at undergraduate and postgraduate engineers and scientists, this book follows the structure of bestseller Biology of Wastewater Treatment. This volume gives an expanded and up-to-date overview of the use of fixed-film reactors in wastewater treatment with content spanning from biofilm formation, to traditional trickling filters and rotating biological contactor technology, advanced submerged systems (including MBBRs and IFAS) and their key role in the treatment of contaminated air, and finally to nitrogen removal employing new microbial pathways such as Anammox. This monograph emphasizes the biological aspects of the processes.

Pollutants are increasing day by day in the environment due to human interference. Thus, it has become necessary to find solutions to clean up these hazardous pollutants to improve human, animal, and plant health. Microbial Biotechnology in Environmental Monitoring and Cleanup is a critical scholarly resource that examines the toxic hazardous substances and their impact on the environment. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as pollution of microorganisms, phytoremediation, and bioremediation, this book is geared towards academics, professionals, graduate students, and practitioners interested in emerging techniques for environmental decontamination.

Biofilms -- Science and Technology covers the main topics of biofilm formation and activity, from basic science to applied aspects in engineering and medicine. The book presents a masterly discussion of microbial adhesion, the metabolism of microorganisms in biofilms, modelling of mass transfer and biological reaction within biofilms, as well as the behaviour of these microbial communities in industry (waste water treatment, heat exchanger biofouling, membranes, food processing) and in medicine (teeth, implants, prosthetic devices). Laboratory techniques and industrial monitoring methods are also presented. The book is directed at readers at the postgraduate level and is organised as a textbook, containing 11 chapters, a glossary, and a detailed subject index.

Our rivers and lakes are continuously self-purifying thanks to algal and bacterial biofilms that grow over the surface of stones and other debris. This same process has been employed for over a century to treat our municipal and industrial wastewater in specially designed fixed film reactors that maximize this microbial activity by providing ideal growth conditions and unlimited food and oxygen. Fixed film, or attached biofilm, reactors are unique in their ability to treat complex wastewaters and shock loadings; using far less energy than other wastewater treatment processes such as activated sludge, making them a sustainable treatment option.This new book, based on a chapter from the bestseller Biology of Wastewater Treatment, gives an expanded and up-to-date overview of the use of fixed film reactors in wastewater treatment. This volume's content spans from biofilm formation, through traditional trickling filters and rotating biological contactor technology, advanced submerged systems including MBBRs and IFAS, their key role in the treatment of contaminated air, and finally to nitrogen removal employing new microbial pathways such as Anammox. The monograph emphasizes the biological aspects of the processes that will also be of interest to engineers.The book is aimed equally at engineers and scientists at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level, who will find it accessible and easy to understand. It will also be a useful reference for practitioners.

Biofilms in aquatic ecosystems colonize various surfaces (sand, rocks, leaves) and play a key role in the environment. Aquatic biofilms supply energy and organic matter to the food chain, they are important in recycling organic matter, and they contribute to water quality. This book is a concise review of the current knowledge on aquatic biofilms, with an emphasis on the characteristics and ecology of biofilms in natural ecosystems, along with a focus on biofilm applications linked to water pollution problems. The book is divided into three sections: "Biofilms Mode of Life," "Biofilms and Pollution," and "New Technologies Using Biofilms." In the first section, the aquatic biofilm mode of life is described and reviewed. Key aspects covered include the three-dimensional structure and cell-to-cell communication of biofilms, their dynamic prokaryotic diversity, and their vital role in biogeochemical cycles. This is followed by a comprehensive look at the use of biofilms in water quality. Additional chapters discuss environmental risk assessment, monitoring, and ecotoxicological approaches. Further topics include biofilm development in sewage pipes and the potential for microbial transformations in these systems. The final section focuses on important examples of novel technologies based on biofilms for water treatment, including the biodegradation of pollutants, the application of bioelectrogenic biofilms, and the biofilm capacity for nitrogen removal. [Subject: Molecular Biology, Life Science]