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A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

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Published on: December 25, 2015

Modelling microbial competition in nitrifying biofilm reactors.

T P W Vannecke¹, E I P Volcke²

¹Department of Biosystems Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

|June 19, 2015

Summary

This study introduces a multispecies nitrifying biofilm model accounting for microbial diversity. It reveals how operational conditions impact biofilm composition and function, explaining species coexistence using r- and K-selection theory.

Keywords:

biofilm reactors competition mathematical modelling microbial ecology nitrification population dynamics

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Published on: January 18, 2014

Area of Science:

Environmental microbiology
Biofilm modeling
Wastewater treatment

Background:

Nitrifying microorganisms exhibit diverse parameter values in literature, often attributed to varied analysis methods and biodiversity.
Conventional nitrifying biofilm models typically overlook this significant microbial diversity.
Understanding microbial diversity is crucial for accurate biofilm process modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a one-dimensional, multispecies nitrifying biofilm model incorporating literature-reported variations in nitrifier parameters.
To investigate the impact of microbial diversity on nitrifying biofilm performance and composition.
To explore the coexistence and spatial distribution of nitrifying species under different operational conditions.

Main Methods:

Development of a one-dimensional, multispecies nitrifying biofilm model.
Inclusion of 60 species of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and 60 species of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB).
Steady-state analysis considering nitrogen and oxygen as limiting resources.

Main Results:

Operational conditions (nitrogen loading rate, oxygen concentration) influence biofilm output and microbial composition.
Substrate concentrations within the biofilm are key drivers of these changes.
The model predicts coexistence of multiple AOB or NOB species at steady state.
Spatial distribution of coexisting species aligns with r- and K-selection theory.

Conclusions:

Microbial diversity significantly impacts nitrifying biofilm models and performance.
Operational parameters critically shape biofilm community structure and function.
The r- and K-selection theory provides a framework for understanding species coexistence in nitrifying biofilms.