Fixed-Film Reactor Systems

An illustration of a fixed-film reactor system is presented in Figure 24. 

Residuals Produced The residuals produced in a fixed-film reactor are normally small when compared to the residuals produced in a suspended growth system. There can be some sloughing of biomass during system ojjerations, and this may need to be separated from the effluent. The residuals, depending on site-specific requirements, may require additional treatment prior to ultimate disposal. 

Technology Description Hybrid reactors, as the name implies, are a combination of suspended growth and fixed-film reactor principles. In these systems, the fixed film is submerged and the reactor contents are continuously stirred. A large amount of biomass is maintained in the system. 

The size of most biological reactors is determined by pollution load, for example, kg BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) or COD (chemical oxygen demand) per kg MLVSS (mixed liquor volatile suspended solids) per day in the case of suspended growth type systems, and kg BOD or COD per m3 of media or reactor volume in the case of fixed-film type systems. 

The treatment of PAH-contaminated soil in a reactor environment is basically limited to the use of soil slurry reactors. Conversely, many different bioreactor designs exist for the treatment of water contaminated with PAHs. As reviewed by Grady (1989) and Grady Lim (1980), these include fixed film reactors, plug flow reactors, and a variety of gas-phase systems, to name a few. Given the depth and magnitude of such a topic, for the purposes of this review discussions will be limited to a generic overview of reactor applications for PAH bioremediation. 

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