Feasibility of using basalt fiber as biofilm Carrier to construct bio-nest for wastewater treatment

Generally, biofilms developed for wastewater treatment readily detach from carrier medium once available thickness exceeds about 2 mm. Carrier media made of basalt fibers (BFs) could form ball-like aggregates (more than 10 cm in size, and called bio-nest). To demonstrate its feasibility for wastewater treatment, both reactors with and without BF carriers (RBF and RCO) were evaluated in terms of nutrient removal, oxygen mass transport and biological viabilities as well as biofilm adsorption characteristics. Therefore, oxygen microprofiles and confocal images for bio-nest as well as functional groups for biofilm-attached BF were performed on microsensor systems, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Despite COD:N ratio, both reactors removed about 90% of COD, while only RBF reactor achieved high denitrification capabilities, with nitrogen removal efficiencies varying between 60.10 ± 0.45% and 82.07 ± 0.64%. Microprofile and confocal images showed that dissolved oxygen could reach the core with depth up to 50 mm, at which viable bacteria were detected. Characteristic peaks on FT-IR spectrum demonstrated that various functional groups of polysaccharide and proteins in EPS played a key role in aggregating biofilm-attached BFs into a bio-nest. Thus, BF provides a promising alternative to conventional carrier medium for wastewater treatment.