Our partnership focused on the research and development of biofilm processes to improve efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability process units such as submerged aerated filters (SAFs), moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR) and trickling filters. This 3-year PhD was the first research ever to be focused on the impact of geometry of media filters in biofilm reactors performance.

A pilot plant of 2m³ was tested in different operation and hydraulic with media carriers of different range of protected surface area and voidage. Through mathematical models developed, Warden Biomedia was the first to introduce a new parameter “media dimensionality” which was proven to directly impact positively the start-up time and the process operation during steady state conditions.

Furthermore, for the first time ever, biofilm boundary layer concept was also studied to understand the potential of Warden Biomedia to develop thin and healthy biofilms based on media geometry. Two scientific published papers originated from this project.