Prediction of average biofilm density and performance of a spherical bioparticle under substrate inhibition

In this article, a model was proposed to predict the average performance and biofilm density of a spherical bioparticle under substrate inhibition in a fluidized bed system. The average biofilm density and substrate consumption rates were predicted for a definite biofilm thickness and limiting substrate concentrations. A diffusion and reaction model was developed over the bioparticle with biofilm-density dependent effective diffusion coefficients for maximum substrate consumption theory. This theory predicts the optimum density of a biofilm to yield a maximum substrate consumption rate within the biofilm, developed for the first time with this study and experimentally verified. A good correlation was observed between the model prediction and experimental results for biofilm density and substrate consumption rates.