A technique using a membrane flow cell to determine average mass transfer coefficients and tortuosity factors in biofilms

摘要

Average mass transfer coefficients of an inert compound (LiCl) within denitrifying biofilms weremonitored during biofilm growth in a membrane flow cell under different flow conditions, until the biofilmreached (pseudo-) steady state. Average effective diffusivities were found to increase with the decrease intortuosity factors of the biofilm matrix. The lowest tortuosity factor corresponded to the biofilm formed underthe highest liquid velocity.