Abstract
This paper discussed effect of the surface roughness and the hydrophobicity of support material on the microbial attachment In a rotating biological contactor. The by- drophoblclty of each support material was determined by the measurement of contact angle of water and the surface roughness was measured by the surface roughness In- strument. Microorganisms have well attached on the surface of more hydrophilic support material like Nylon6 than that of the hydrophobic support material like PE. When the relatively hydrophilic surface was roughen, the microbial attachment was increased but when the relatively hydrophobic surface was roughen, the attachment was slightly In- creased because the hydrophobicity of support material was Increased by roughening the hydrophobic surface. Although both variables, the surface hydrophobicity and the surface roughness, have Influenced the microbial attachment, the influence of the surface roughness overruled that of the surface hydrophobicity. Support material whose surfaces were roughened about 1mm, 6mm and 11mm were allowed for attached 3, 7 and 24hr, but the differences of maximum and minimum attachment of each material gave nearly constant values and similar trend with time.
