General Electric Company
PROCESS FOR MANAGING WORMS IN MEMBRANE AERATED BIOFILM

Abstract:

An overgrowth of worms can reduce the effluent quality of a membrane aerated biofilm reactor. A method of controlling the growth of worms in a membrane aerated biofilm includes discontinuing all oxygen sources to a tank containing the biofilm and fluid flows flow into the tank. The tank is maintained in this idle condition for a period of time sufficient to kill at least some of the worms living in the biofilm. The method may be applied periodically to inhibit the formation of an excessive population of worms or retroactively to reduce an already excessive population of worms.