Development of microbial biofilms on cellulosic fibers for organic matter removal in river water treatment

Abstract

The present study focuses on the usage of natural cellulosic fibers like coconut fibers (CF) and oil palm fibers (OPF) as an organic substrate for biofilm formation in removing pollutants as opposed to numerous studies that utilized non-organic substrates like plastic and synthetic membrane. The corresponding adsorption ability was tested toward the organic matters (OM) removal in the contaminated river water. The experimental results showed that CF and OPF possessed a higher concentration of phenolic and alcoholic hydroxyl groups by hydrogen bonds have led to a thinner extracellular polymeric substance being formed. The rate at which OM is removed for biofilm attached on coconut fiber (BCF) and biofilm attached on oil palm fiber (BOPF) were identified to be 94.07% and 87.01%, respectively. At 3% outflow, the global mass transfer rate BCF and BOPF were 1.01 and 0.84 d–1. Further to that, the internal mass transfer was found to have an effective diffusivity of pollutants to biofilm. Yet, the mass transfer decreases with the decrease of OM concentration in water. Therefore, it is evident that natural cellulosic fibers are highly effective alternative carriers that can be used for biofilm growth in removing excess concentration of OM in river water.