HR: 0800h
AN: B31A-0984 [Abstracts]
TI: Parameter and Process Significance in Mechanistic Modeling of Cellulose Hydrolysis
AU: Rotter, B
EM: Ben.Rotter@ed.ac.uk
AF: Contaminated Land Assessment and Remediation Research Centre, Institute for Infrastructure and
Environment, School of Engineering and Electronics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL
United Kingdom
AU: Barry, A
EM: andrew.barry@epfl.ch
AF: Ecological Engineering Laboratory, cole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne, EPFL ENAC ISTE ECOL
GR A2 434 (Btiment GR)
Station 2
CH-1015, Lausanne, CH-1015
Switzerland
AU: * Gerhard, J
EM: j.gerhard@ed.ac.uk
AF: Contaminated Land Assessment and Remediation Research Centre, Institute for Infrastructure and
Environment, School of Engineering and Electronics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL
United Kingdom
AU: Small, J
EM: joe.s.small@nexiasolutions.com
AF: Nexia Solutions Ltd, Risley, Warrington, WA3 6AS
United Kingdom
AU: Tahar, B
EM: benabdellah.tahar@nexiasolutions.com
AF: Nexia Solutions Ltd, Risley, Warrington, WA3 6AS
United Kingdom
AB:
The rate of cellulose hydrolysis, and of associated microbial processes, is important in determining the stability of
landfills and their potential impact on the environment, as well as associated time scales. To permit further exploration in
this field, a process-based model of cellulose hydrolysis was developed. The model, which is relevant to both landfill and
anaerobic digesters, includes a novel approach to biomass transfer between a cellulose-bound biofilm and biomass in the
surrounding liquid. Model results highlight the significance of the bacterial colonization of cellulose particles by
attachment through contact in solution. Simulations revealed that enhanced colonization, and therefore cellulose degradation,
was associated with reduced cellulose particle size, higher biomass populations in solution, and increased cellulose-binding
ability of the biomass. A sensitivity analysis of the system parameters revealed different sensitivities to model parameters
for a typical landfill scenario versus that for an anaerobic digester. The results indicate that relative surface area of
cellulose and proximity of hydrolyzing bacteria are key factors determining the cellulose degradation rate.
DE: 1831 Groundwater quality
DE: 1899 General or miscellaneous
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005