Determining Biofilm Biomass Based on Image Processing for PVA Based Media

The freshly developed MICROBI carriers, significantly smaller than conventional media used in Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) wastewater treatment, present both opportunities and challenges-particularly in biomass measurement and calculation. Drawing on data from prior studies, spanning four months and two seasons of containerized technology trials, alongside three months of laboratory experiments, we systematically analyzed the colonized, TTCstained media. Using light microscopy, we measured media diameter and surface area, examining approximately 8,500 microscopic images to calculate biofilm thickness, media size, and surface area. By integrating these findings with literaturederived estimations of biofilm density across developmental stages, we evaluated the differences in biomass dynamics between cleaning organism types and seasonal variations within containerized systems. Our results revealed a steep growth rate for heterotrophs and notable, albeit slower, growth for autotrophs. Remarkably, both organism types yielded biomass levels significantly exceeding those of conventional wastewater cleaning methods. However, advancements in precisely measuring biofilm density and improving media porosity measurements remain essential for future research.