Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Mass transfer studies on biological denitrification in fluidized bed bioreactor
Abstract:
A fluidized bed bioreactor has been used to carry out biological denitrification in the present work as it offers many advantages over other types of reactors. Plastic beads of low density (1055 kg/m3) were used as fluidizing media with Pseudomonas stuzeri, a denitrifying microorganism immobilized on them. The denitrification rate under different operating conditions was studied. The results of experimental results were used to simulate a biofilm model. The effect of initial concentration of nitrate, liquid flow rate and biofilm thickness on biomass concentration of reactor was studied. The concentration of nitrate at biofilm surface was found by iteration. Knowing the concentration at biofilm surface, the external mass transfer coefficient for the process was calculated for each run. The effect of parameters like liquid flow rate and biofilm thickness on external mass transfer coefficient was studied. A functional relationship between Sherwood, Reynolds and Schmidt numbers was established.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Bioreactor Controls-II
Bioreactor Design and Operational System
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this...
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

