@article{MAKHILLERJ20082528265,
    title = {Performance of a Packed Reactor with <I>Opuntia imbricata</I> for Municipal Wastewater Treatment},
    journal = {Environmental Research Journal},
    volume = {2},
    number = {5},
    pages = {238-245},
    year = {2008},
    issn = {1994-5396},
    doi = {erj.2008.238.245},
    url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1994-5396&doi=erj.2008.238.245},
    author = {F. May-Esquivel,L.J. Rios-Gonzalez,Y. Garza-Garcia and},
    keywords = {Packed reactor,natural support,biofilms,oxygen transfer,COD removal,municipal wastewater},
    abstract = {The oxygen transfer rate and the performance of both a packed reactor with a natural support of <I>Opuntia imbricata </I>represented as (R1) and a reactor without support represented as (R2) were compared in the treatment of municipal wastewater. The results demonstrated that the dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxygen transfer rate (K<SUB>L</SUB>a) were affected positively by air flow rate when increased from 0-2 lpm, mainly in R1. COD removal efficiency was affected by decreasing hydraulic retention time from 30-10 h in both reactors, but highly significant in R2. The R1 reactor showed higher COD removal rate than R2, when the Organic Loading Rate (OLR) was increased from 0.44-1.32 kg COD m <SUP>3</SUP> day <SUP>1</SUP>. Biomass concentration after 100 day of continuous operation was 2.49 and 12.35 g VSS L <SUP>1</SUP> for R1 and R2, respectively. The higher oxygen transfer rate, concentration  of  active  biomass  and  performance  of  R1 were result of a greater specific surface area of <I>Opuntia imbricata</I>.}
    }