Insights into biofilm carriers for biological wastewater treatment processes: Current state-of-the-art, challenges, and opportunities

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 288; p. 121619
• Main Authors: Zhao, Yingxin, Liu, Duo, Huang, Wenli, Yang, Ying, Ji, Min, Nghiem, Long Duc, Trinh, Quang Thang, Tran, Ngoc Han
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2019
• Subjects: anaerobic digesters; biocompatibility; biofilm; Biofilm carrier; Biofilm reactors; biological treatment; biotransformation; denitrification; Hydrophilic/electrophilic modified carriers; hydrophilicity; industrial wastewater; Lewis acids; Magnetic biofilm carrier; magnetism; microbial growth; pollutants; Redox mediator carrier; wastewater treatment; Hydrophilic/electrophilic modified carriers; Biofilm carrier; Redox mediator carrier; Biofilm reactors; Magnetic biofilm carrier
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121619

[Display omitted] •Slow release biofilm carriers provide a solid substrate and electron donor.•Biofilm carriers with hydrophilic surface help to promote biofilm formation.•Biofilm carriers with magnetic property can shorten the startup time of bioreactor.•Redox mediator carriers accelerate transformation rates of recalcitrant pollutants. Biofilm carriers play an important role in attached growth systems for wastewater treatment processes. This study systematically summarizes the traditional and novel biofilm carriers utilized in biofilm-based wastewater treatment technology. The advantages and disadvantages of traditional biofilm carriers are evaluated and discussed in light of basic property, biocompatibility and applicability. The characteristics, applications performance, and mechanism of novel carriers (including slow-release carriers, hydrophilic/electrophilic modified carriers, magnetic carriers and redox mediator carriers) in wastewater biological treatment were deeply analyzed. Slow release biofilm carriers are used to provide a solid substrate and electron donor for the growth of microorganisms and denitrification for anoxic and/or anaerobic bioreactors. Carriers with hydrophilic/electrophilic modified surface are applied for promoting biofilm formation. Magnetic materials-based carriers are employed to shorten the start-up time of bioreactor. Biofilm carriers acting as redox mediators are used to accelerate biotransformation of recalcitrant pollutants in industrial wastewater.