Laboratory Study on the Factors Affecting on Initial Anaerobic Biomass Development

혐기성 부착미생물의 초기성장에 미치는 영향인자에 관한 연구

Laboratory-scale investigation into initial anaerobic biofilm development was carried out by circulating mixed liquor from a steady-state anaerobic reactor through silicone tubing and then rerurning the mixed liquor to the reactor. The wall of the silicone tubing was the surface upon which anaerobic biofilm accumulation or development was monitored. Methanogenic bacteria accumulation was monitored by F$_{420}$ fluorescence (picomoles F$_{420}$/cm$^{2}$) of the extracted biofilm material. Biofilm accumulation was measured by the increase in COD of the extracted material ($\mu $g COD/cm$^{2}$). Experiments were conducted for 25 days, and biofilm analyses were performed at 5 days intervals. The results indicated that the initial rates of methangen and anaerobic biofilm accumulation increased with increasing organic loading rate and higher initial rates were observed for 15 days than 15 day liquid HRT or SRT. When the initial rates were plotted against the corresponding mixed liquor volatile suspended solids the difference between the results at the two HRT's became much less significant. Thus, the concentration of mixed liquor volatile suspended solids was found to be a very important parameter affecting initial anaerobic biofilm development. The ratio of methanogens to anaerobic biofilm was also investigated. The results showed that the ratio remained constant through the 25 days of each experiment and for high organic loading rates. Based on the results of this research, a reduction, a reduction of start-up period of anaerobic fixed film reactors might be achieved by maintaining a high organic loading and a large concentration of anaerobic microorganisms in the mixed liquor during the start-up period.