Biofilm Reactors: A Potential Alternative to Current Treatment Technology for Wastewater in Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu Valley faces challenges managing its growing wastewater volume, compounded by the complex composition of unregulated industrial discharges. Releasing untreated wastewater poses a severe risk to public health and the environment. Existing wastewater treatment infrastructure, primarily reli...
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| Natura: | Articolo |
| Lingua: | English |
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Biotechnology Society of Nepal
2024-07-01
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| Serie: | Nepal Journal of Biotechnology |
| Soggetti: | |
| Accesso online: | https://nepjb.com/index.php/NJB/article/view/318 |
| _version_ | 1827157108889485312 |
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| author | Pratap Bikram Shahi Sarita Manandhar Shukra Raj Paudel |
| author_facet | Pratap Bikram Shahi Sarita Manandhar Shukra Raj Paudel |
| author_sort | Pratap Bikram Shahi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Kathmandu Valley faces challenges managing its growing wastewater volume, compounded by the complex composition of unregulated industrial discharges. Releasing untreated wastewater poses a severe risk to public health and the environment. Existing wastewater treatment infrastructure, primarily reliant on conventional activated sludge processes (ASP) struggles to meet growing demands. These systems require substantial land area, are sensitive to influent variations, produce a high volume of sludge, and incur high operational and maintenance costs.
Biofilms, naturally occurring assemblages of microorganisms adherent to surfaces and embedded within an extracellular polymeric matrix (EPS), present a compelling alternative for wastewater treatment due to their diverse pollutant removal capabilities. When implemented as biofilm reactors, they offer distinct advantages, including tolerance to fluctuations in wastewater composition, minimal land requirements, and reduced energy consumption. Notably, microbes residing within a biofilm are capable of biodegradation of persistent materials such as pharmaceuticals, metals, and plastics. Globally, biofilmmediated wastewater treatment has been implemented successfully, while a knowledge gap remains for the treatment of Kathmandu's wastewater.
This review critically assesses biological wastewater treatment methods, providing insight into: a) suspended growth process with their configuration, application, and limitations, b) wastewater treatment infrastructures of Kathmandu Valley, and c) biofilm process with their configuration, factors influencing biofilm development and performance, application of specific microbial strains for enhanced treatment efficiency, and factors to be considered during implementation. Furthermore, the paper recommends: a) an extensive study of laboratory-scale biofilm reactors evaluating and optimizing their performance for local integration and b) investigating the role of diverse microbial communities to further enhance the treatment plant's operation. By prioritizing research and development towards biofilm technology, Kathmandu Valley can achieve efficient and environmentally friendly wastewater management.
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| first_indexed | 2025-03-20T23:20:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e72dcad9b45e45d0b53e742c6e5d25f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2091-1130 2467-9313 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-20T23:20:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Biotechnology Society of Nepal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nepal Journal of Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e72dcad9b45e45d0b53e742c6e5d25f22024-08-04T09:22:08ZengBiotechnology Society of NepalNepal Journal of Biotechnology2091-11302467-93132024-07-0112110.54796/njb.v12i1.318Biofilm Reactors: A Potential Alternative to Current Treatment Technology for Wastewater in Kathmandu Valley Pratap Bikram Shahi0Sarita Manandhar1Shukra Raj Paudel21) Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal 2) Aastha Scientific Research Service Pvt. Ltd., Maitidevi, Kathmandu, NepalDepartment of Microbiology, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Kathmandu Valley faces challenges managing its growing wastewater volume, compounded by the complex composition of unregulated industrial discharges. Releasing untreated wastewater poses a severe risk to public health and the environment. Existing wastewater treatment infrastructure, primarily reliant on conventional activated sludge processes (ASP) struggles to meet growing demands. These systems require substantial land area, are sensitive to influent variations, produce a high volume of sludge, and incur high operational and maintenance costs. Biofilms, naturally occurring assemblages of microorganisms adherent to surfaces and embedded within an extracellular polymeric matrix (EPS), present a compelling alternative for wastewater treatment due to their diverse pollutant removal capabilities. When implemented as biofilm reactors, they offer distinct advantages, including tolerance to fluctuations in wastewater composition, minimal land requirements, and reduced energy consumption. Notably, microbes residing within a biofilm are capable of biodegradation of persistent materials such as pharmaceuticals, metals, and plastics. Globally, biofilmmediated wastewater treatment has been implemented successfully, while a knowledge gap remains for the treatment of Kathmandu's wastewater. This review critically assesses biological wastewater treatment methods, providing insight into: a) suspended growth process with their configuration, application, and limitations, b) wastewater treatment infrastructures of Kathmandu Valley, and c) biofilm process with their configuration, factors influencing biofilm development and performance, application of specific microbial strains for enhanced treatment efficiency, and factors to be considered during implementation. Furthermore, the paper recommends: a) an extensive study of laboratory-scale biofilm reactors evaluating and optimizing their performance for local integration and b) investigating the role of diverse microbial communities to further enhance the treatment plant's operation. By prioritizing research and development towards biofilm technology, Kathmandu Valley can achieve efficient and environmentally friendly wastewater management. https://nepjb.com/index.php/NJB/article/view/318BiofilmBiological TreatmentKathmandu ValleyWastewater |
| spellingShingle | Pratap Bikram Shahi Sarita Manandhar Shukra Raj Paudel Biofilm Reactors: A Potential Alternative to Current Treatment Technology for Wastewater in Kathmandu Valley Nepal Journal of Biotechnology Biofilm Biological Treatment Kathmandu Valley Wastewater |
| title | Biofilm Reactors: A Potential Alternative to Current Treatment Technology for Wastewater in Kathmandu Valley |
| title_full | Biofilm Reactors: A Potential Alternative to Current Treatment Technology for Wastewater in Kathmandu Valley |
| title_fullStr | Biofilm Reactors: A Potential Alternative to Current Treatment Technology for Wastewater in Kathmandu Valley |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biofilm Reactors: A Potential Alternative to Current Treatment Technology for Wastewater in Kathmandu Valley |
| title_short | Biofilm Reactors: A Potential Alternative to Current Treatment Technology for Wastewater in Kathmandu Valley |
| title_sort | biofilm reactors a potential alternative to current treatment technology for wastewater in kathmandu valley |
| topic | Biofilm Biological Treatment Kathmandu Valley Wastewater |
| url | https://nepjb.com/index.php/NJB/article/view/318 |
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