Determining biofilm thickness in a membrane supported biofilm reactor

Abstract

A method of assessing biofilm thickness in a membrane supported biofilm reactor (MSBR) of the type comprising a lumen containing a gas phase, a liquid phase, and a gas permeable membrane providing an interface between the gas and liquid phases, the method comprising the steps of charging the lumen with an inert gas, closing the lumen to establish an initial elevated pressure in the lumen, measuring the rate of change of pressure within the lumen, and correlating the rate of change of pressure (dP/dt) with biofilm thickness. The step of correlating dP/dt with biofilm thickness involves correlating dP/dt with the rate of diffusion of the inert gas (dn/dt), correlating dn/dt with an overall mass transfer coefficient (K), correlating K with the mass transfer coefficient of the biofilm (ICB), and correlating kβ with the biofilm thickness. Also described is a membrane supported biofilm reactor (MSBR) of the type comprising a gas permeable membrane providing an interface between a lumen containing a gas phase, and a liquid phase, characterized in that the MSBR comprises means for flushing the lumen with an inert gas, means for closing and re-opening the lumen, and means for detecting intra-membrane pressure within the lumen. The means for detecting intra-membrane pressure is provided by a pressure transducer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.