I googled the definition of both, but still don't understand the difference between them. As far as I understand, biomass (together with gases) is the product of the transformation of dissolved and suspended organic contaminants, while substrate is the organic matter or nutrient in wastewater, which is converted during biological treatment. Can anyone explain it and give me the example to see the difference?
Biomass is the content of active sludge(sludge itself and microorganism, bacteria) while substrate is the food content supply into bioreactor as microorganism food.
In the area of wastewater, biomass refers to the microorganisms (catalysers), also known as secondary sludge.
Substrates refers to what is degraded.
Cheer
Biomass or cellmass (biofilm) are the accumulated microorganisms that can use substrate (such as organic maters) in the biological wastewater treatment process. When microorganisms break down substrate in wastewater they use the energy in the wastewater for their own metabolism and then covert the elements into salts and gases. therefor they formed biomass in attache growth methods such as Trickling filter or RBC...
I agree with Juan and Seyed. Biomass refers to the total microbial cells present in the waste water while substrates are the nutrients or organic matter that make up the waste water and which provide food for the bacterial cells. Most of the organic matter ends up making the biomass because they are metabolized by the microbial cells, broken down for carbon and energy and incorporated/assimilated into the cells....as this happens the organic matter is degraded and the waste water is 'treated' as much of it is broken down by the microbes.
Well, I think biomass (microbial colonies/count) and substrate (nutrients/ parameters upon which microbes fed) make up the organic matter in wastewater which needs to be treated. They are very different as it has already been established and have significant roles in treatment process.
I agree with Nsanzumukiza Martin Vincent. He gave an interesting explanation.In an activiely metabolizing fluidized microcosm，biomass cannot be only microoganisms. Yea its right to refer to it as microorganism but not in entirety. Example in a biorector，the stock supplied to be degraded is the substrate and mixture of both microorganisms and the substrate the biomass.
Biomass is primarily the microorganisms in the activated sludge unit that will degrade the substrate. The substrate is the content of the wastewater which is biodegradable and will be degraded by the biomass.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Vectorization