Microconstituents Removal through Biofilm Thickness Control Strategies for Water Reuse

Many studies have been done on biofiltration systems in the last few decades; however, most focus on the hydraulic characteristics of the biofilter. Studies comparing head loss reductions and oxidant applications are plentiful, while the diverse microorganisms populating the filter and the biofilms’ thickness is rarely curated for specific removal goals. This is complicated by the growth of different types of microorganisms, thus making it hard to generalize the microbial activities in a biofilter. This presentation discusses preliminary results where we reimagine filtration optimization by controlling biofilm thickness to achieve enhanced substrate removal.