Optimizing Organic Contaminants Removal Using Rotating Biological Contactors – A Kinetic and Equilibrium Study

Abstract

This paper presents a study on optimizing organic contaminants removal using rotating biological contactors (RBCs) through a kinetic and equilibrium analysis. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to explore non-linear relationships and identify optimal operating conditions for maximizing dodecane removal efficiency. Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria was chosen for the research due to its capacity to breakdown a wide range of hydrocarbons. The experimental data were analyzed using Design Expert software, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to assess the statistical significance of each variable and their interactions. The effects of beginning biomass content, initial dodecane concentration, and disc rotating speed were considered. The research provided insights into the relative importance of different factors and their combined effects on dodecane removal efficiency. The findings contribute to the understanding of microbial processes and the optimization of RBC systems for efficient organic contaminant removal.

Keywords

• dodecane
• pseudomonas
• response surface methodology
• kinetic modelling
• rotating biological contactors