Modeling response of nitrifying biofilm to inhibitory shock loads.

To study the response of nitrifying biofilm to inhibitory shock loads, a lab-scale nitrifying biofilm reactor was operated in ambient conditions. Shock loads of various concentrations of inhibitory compound were applied to the biofilm. Aniline was used as an inhibitory compound. The experimental results were utilized to develop a model for predicting the variation of effluent nitrate concentration from the biofilm reactor for given shock loads of aniline concentration and exposure time both in exposure as well as in recovery phase. Close agreement between model and experimental observation of bulk aniline concentration and effluent nitrate concentration was obtained which indicates the usefulness of the model to estimate bulk aniline concentration and to predict the response of inhibitory shock loads on nitrifying biofilm.