Two rotating biological contactors (RBC) were operated according to a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) strategy. The reactor basins were periodically filled and drained. A thin biofilm developed in the reactor in which the substrate concentation was maintained at a relatively low level (slow fill strategy). In contrast, a very voluminous biofilm developed, and sloughing occured in the reactor in which the substrate concentration was allowed to increase rapidly (fast fill strategy). It is concluded that periodic changes of the substrate concentration are to be minimized in order to enable exploitation of the capacity of biofilm reactors.
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