AEROBIC SUBMERGED BIOFILM REACTORS FOR WASTE-WATER TREATMENT

Treatment of wastewater from the campus of the National University of Mexico in a four-stage aerobic submerged biofilm reactor containing Pall-rings resulted in effluent with BOD values of less than 10 mg/l. The nitrification started in the first compartment and the reactor nearly achieved complete nitrification. The resulting biomass was filamentous and had good settling characteristics. Analysis of data indicated that the Stover-Kincannon and the variable order models can be used for the description and design of the process.