• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.269-282
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to find out whether the developed semi-empirical biofilm model can be applicable to real BAF pilot-scale wastewater treatment. In addition, the optimum operating conditions of BAF as a function of process variables such as organic loading change can be drawn based on the simulation results of model. The results will provide the economic and efficient BAF process design and operating control. As a result, developed semi-empirical biofilm model which is relatively simple compared to mathematical model can simulate three BAF processes consisted of 25 layers within 1 seconds. When this model was used for simulating real pilot scale BAF process and the simulated water quality values were compared to experimental ones, simulated TCOD, SCOD, TN, $NH_4{^+}$-N, $NO_x{^-}$-N, alkalinity values were different to experimental ones within 21%, 20%, 8.1%, 48%, 10%, and 23%, respectively. Therefore, if the BAF system was equipped with automatic control, the BAF process can be better efficiently adapted under the condition of significant change of influent loading.