In this study, a mathematical model of a fixed bed Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) biofiltration system was developed to predict the organic removal efficiency of the filter. The model consists of bulk transportation, adsorption, utilization, and biodegradation of organics. The variation of the specific surface area due to biofilm growth and the effect of filter backwash were also included in the model. The intrapellet diffusion and the diffusion of substrate in the biofilm were described by linear driving force approximation (LDFA) method. Biodegradation of organics was described by Monod kinetics. Sips adsorption isotherm was used to analyze the initial adsorption equilibrium of the system. The model showed that the organic removal efficiency of the biofilter greatly depends on the parameters related to the biological activities such as the maximum rate of substrate utilization (kmax) and biomass yield (Y) coefficients. Parameters such as suspended cell concentration (Xs) and decay constant (Kd) had little effects on the model simulation results. The filter backwash also had no significant impact on the performance of the biofilter.
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Shim WG, Chaudhary D, Vigneswaren S, Ngo HH, Lee JW, Moon H, "Mathematical Modeling of Granular Activated Carbon Biofilter," ISST02-JK The Six International Symposium on Separation Technology, 429, 2002