Effect of surface wettability of wood-polymer composites on biofilm formation in wastewater treatment processes

Abstract

Composite materials, due to their properties, can be used as filling/carrier in the technology of wastewater treatment using a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR). The surface roughness and wettability, which are related to the material hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties and directly influence the degree of absorption and aggregation of microorganisms, are crucial from the point of view of application in the wastewater treatment processes. In this work, the susceptibility of the surface of specimens made from the wood-polymer composites (WPC) to biofilm formation in the wastewater treatment process was investigated. The study showed that the composition of WPC and its residence time in the bioreactor have a direct influence on the contact angle. The change in contact angle value determines the ability of biofilm formation on wood-polymer materials.