Dynamics of sustainable grazing fauna and effect on performance of gas biofilter.

The inherent operational problems of biofilters such as a pressure drop increase and nutrient limitations were managed in a toluene-removing gas biofilter with a sustainable grazing fauna consisting of micrometazoa and ciliate protozoa. Dynamic populations of predatory nematodes (Caenorhabditis sp.), rotifers (Philodina sp.

Phosphatase activity in anaerobic bioreactors for wastewater treatment.

Phosphatase (PO4ase) activity was investigated in continuous and fed-batch anaerobic bioreactors for wastewater treatment. PO4ase levels were high in continuously fed reactors (880-2632 micromol/L/h), compared to a fed-batch reactor (FBR) (540-1249 micromol/L/h). Alkaline and acid PO4ases were present in all the reactors, but in varying magnitudes and total PO4ase activity exhibited a 10-30% variation even at steady-state reactor conditions.