Influence of the biofilm formation process on the properties of biofilm electrode material

Abstract The properties of biofilm electrode material used in wastewater treatment are analyzed through electrochemical and chemical methods. Applying a given potential is beneficial to biofilm formation on the substrate surface, and the thickness changes undulately with culture time. There are much more ordered and uniform holes on the Ti surface by electrostatic adsorption than by natural adsorption. The biofilm electrode possesses the better properties for organic degradation than the naked electrode. The thinner the biofilm is, the higher the degradation efficiency behaves. The biofilm thickness influences the electron transfer in the electrode process, and controls the synergetic effect between the substrate and microbes, so changes the degradation efficiency of phenol and intermediator.