| This work explores the development and implementation of a biofilm model for multiple solid species and multiple dissolved components. The model makes use of several different advanced numerical methods in order to achieve the goal of describing the behavior of biofilms growing in wastewater treatment reactors. Using the model we explore how including metabolic products in the model influences the interactions between bacterial species within biofilms, and show that including these products is necessary for creating a comprehensive model. We explore biofilm growth in a solid-substratum nitrifying reactor and also in a hydrogen-based, porous-membrane denitrifying reactor; modeling these systems requires that we address additional factors affecting growth. In the end, we conclude that, while biofilm modeling is still a relatively young field, we are already able to use mathematical models to both improve reactor operation as well as deepen our general understanding of microbial processes. |
