Bulk Liquid

1.0

Case b
Case a: 1 = 11 m, Lf /1 = 9.1 0.75
Case b: 1 = 450 m, Lf /1 = 0.22

Attachment Surface

Sf / Ss
0.50

Case a
0.25

0 20 40 60 80 100
z, m

Substrate concentration profiles for characteristic deep (case a) and nearly fully penetrated (case b) biofilms.
The ratio Lf / determines if the biofilm is deep. Many values of k1, Df , and Xf can give the same 1 value,
and Rittman and McCarty (2001) illustrate how this affects J1.

Figure by MIT OCW.

Adapted from: Rittman, Bruce E., and Perry L. McCarty. Environmental Biotechnology: Principals and
Applications. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2001.
 z

Bulk Liquid Diffusion Biofilm Attaching

Layer Surface
Fully penetrated
Sb

Ss
Concentration

al Sw
Sh

lo
w
De
ep

L Lf

Distance normal to the surface of the biofilm

Characteristic Substrate Concentration Profiles within a Biofilm

Figure by MIT OCW.

Adapted from: Suidan, M. T., B. E. Rittman, and U. K. Traegner. "Criteria establishing biofilm-kinetic types." Water Research 21,
no. 4 (April 1987): 491-498.
 Approaching 1/2 - order

0
1st Order

Sdeep
-1

-2
log10J

Deep

-3

-4
Steady-state
solution
-5
b'
Smin = K
Yq - b'
-6
-3 -2 -1 0 +1
log10S
Typical response of a steady-state biofilm to changes in S.
For this example, Smin = 0.0204 mg/cm3. S has units mg/cm3,
and J has units mg/cm2-d.

Figure by MIT OCW.

Adapted from: Rittman, B. E., and P. L. McCarty. Environmental Biotechnology: Principles and Applications.
Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2001.
Trickling
filter

Source: U.S. EPA, 2000. Wastewater Technology Fact Sheet: Trickling Filters. Report No. EPA 832-F-00-014. Office of Water, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. September 2000.
 TRICKLING FILTER DETAILS
Effluent Channel

Floor slope
B

B
A A

Underdrain
blocks

A
A UNDERDRAIN BLOCK A FLOOR PLAN
B

Top of Bed Top of Bed

Depth of Media or Packing

Depth of Media or Packing
Effluent Channel

Underdrain Slab
block

C
A SECTION A-A D
A SECTION B-B

Figure by MIT OCW.

Adapted from: Reynolds, T. D., and P. A. Richards. Unit Operations and Processes in Environmental
Engineering. 2nd ed. Boston, MA: PWS Publishing Company,1996, p. 543.
 Primary settling
Secondary settling

Raw waste Treated

water wastewater

Sludge to treatment or disposal

Figure by MIT OCW.

Adapted from Gonzalez, J. F. Wastewater Treatment in the Fishing Industry.