Lecture 4

Trickling filter
 TRICKLING FILTER

 Trickling filter is an attached-growth type of process in which microorganisms attached
to a medium are used for removing organic matter from wastewater. that utilizes
 This type of system is common to a number of technologies such as rotating biological
contactors (RBCs) and packed bed reactors (biotowers). These reactors are also called as
non-submerged fixed film biological reactors.

COMPONENTS OF TRICKLING FILTER

Figure 4.4.1 Trickling filter

[A] Packing
 Trickling filter uses packing medium composed of crushed stone, slag, rock or plastic
over which wastewater is distributed continuously (Figure 4.4.1).
 The ideal medium should have the following properties: high specific surface area, high
void space, light weight, biological inertness, chemical resistance, mechanical durability,
and low cost.
  The important characteristics of medium includes-
a) Porosity: It is a measure of the void space available for passage of the wastewater
and air and for ventilation of product gases.
b) Specific surface area: It refers to the amount of surface area of the media that is
available for biofilms growth.
c) Size of the medium ranges from 50-100 mm having specific surface area in the range
of 50-65 m2/m3 with porosities of 40-50 %.
[B] Wastewater dosing
 Influent wastewater is normally applied from the top of the trickling filter.
 Under a hydraulic head of about 1.0 m, jet action through the nozzles is sufficient to
power the rotor.
 As the flow is intermittent, there is enough air circulation through the pores between
dosing.
 The distributer arm distributes the wastewater continuously over the medium, which
trickles down through the bed.
[C] Under-drain [1]
 It is used in trickling filters to support the filter medium, collect the treated effluent and
the sloughed biological solids, and circulate the air through the filter.
 The liquid flow in under-drains and collection channels should not be more than half full
for adequate air flows.
PROCESS DESCRIPTION OF TRICKLING FILTER
 A rotary or stationary distribution mechanism distributes wastewater from the top of the
filter percolating it through the interstices of the film-covered medium [2].
 As the wastewater moves through the filter, the organic matter is adsorbed onto the film
and degraded by a mixed population of aerobic microorganisms.
 The oxygen required for organic degradation is supplied by air circulating through the
filter induced by natural draft or ventilation.
 As the biological film continues to grow, the microorganisms near the surface lose their
ability to cling to the medium, and a portion of the slime layer falls off the filter. This
process is known as sloughing [3].
  The sloughed solids are picked up by the under-drain system and transported to a clarifier
for removal from the wastewater.
 Microorganisms used [1]
o The microorganisms used are mainly facultative bacteria that decompose the organic
material in the wastewater along with aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
o It includes Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, Psudomonas, and alcaligenes.
o In the lower reaches of the filter, the nitrifying bacteria are usually present.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE OPERATION OF TRICKLING FILTER [2, 4, 5]
[A] Organic loading
 A high organic loading rate results in a rapid growth of biomass.
 Excessive growth may result in plugging of pores and subsequent flooding of portions of
the medium.
[B] Hydraulic flow rates
 Increasing the hydraulic loading rate increases sloughing and helps to keep the bed open.
Range of hydraulic and organic loading rates for trickling filters are shown in table 1.
[C] Relative temperature of wastewater and ambient air
 Cool water absorbs heat from air, and the cooled air falls towards toward the bottom of
the filter in a concurrent fashion with the water.
 Warm water heats the air, causing it to rise through the underdrain and up through the
medium.
 At temperature differentials of less than about 3 to 40C, relatively little air movement
results, and stagnant conditions prevent good ventilation.
 Extreme cold may result in icing and destruction of the biofilms.

DESIGN EQUATIONS FOR TRICKLING FILTER

[A] Tentative method of ten states of USA [4]
The equation is given as follows:

E
R Q 1 (4.4.1)
 R Q   1.5
where, Q is the flow rate, R is the recycle flow rate and E is the efficiency.
 a) Loading rate

(Rawsettleddomesticsludge)102kg BOD/(d.m3 )
b) R/Q should be such that
BOD entering filter (including recirculat ion)  3  BOD expected in effluents

[B] Velz equation [1]

The following equation is used for a single-stage system and in the first stage of a two-stage
system:

Se1  [(Si  r1Se1 ) /(1  r1 )] exp[(kDAn / Qn )(1.035T 20 )] (4.4.2)

The following equation is used for the second stage of a two-stage system:

Se2  [(Se  r2 Se2 ) /(1  r2 )]exp[(kDAn Se1 / Qn Si )(1.035T 20 )] (4.4.3)

Where, Se is the effluent BOD from the filter (mg/l), Si is the influent BOD (mg/l), r is the
ratio of recirculated flow to wastewater flow, D is the filter depth (m), A is the filter plan area
(m2), Q is the wastewater flow (m3/min), T is the wastewater temperature (oC), k and n are
empirical coefficients (for municipal wastewaters, k = 0.02 and n = 0.5) and subscript i (i = 1,
2) repressent the stage number.
[C] NRC equations [1]
The following equation is used for a single-stage system and the first stage of a two-stage
system:

1  (Se1 / Si )  1 /[1  0.532(QSi / V1F 1)0.5 ] (4.3.4)

F1  [(1  r1 ) /(1  0.1r1 )2 ] (4.3.5)

The following equation is used for the second stage of a two-stage system:

1  (Se2 / Se1 )  1 /[1  0.532(QSe1 / V2 F 2)0.5 ] (4.3.6)

F2  [(1  r2 ) /(1  0.1r2 )2 ] (4.3.7)

Where, V is the filter volume (m3) and F is the recirculation factor.
[D] Eckenfelder equation (Plastic media) [6]
The Eckenfelder equation used for plastic media is as follows:

Se / Si  exp[KD(QSam / A)n ] (4.3.8)

 Wherre, K is the observed
o ratee constant fo
or a given fillter depth (m
m/d), Sa is thee specific suurface
o the filter (m2/m3), D is
area of i the filter depth
d w rate (m3/d),, A is
(m), Q is the wasttewater flow
the fiilter plan areea (ft2), and m and n are empirical
e cooefficients.
[E] Germ
main/Schulttz equationss (Plastic meedia) [1]
The
T Germain/Schultz equ
uations used for plastic m
media are as follows:
Se / Si  exp[[K20,i Di (Q / A)  n ] (4.3.9)

k20,2  k20,1 ( D1 / D2 ) x (4.3.10)

Where,
W k20,I is the treatab nt corresponnding to a sppecific filter depth Di at 2200C,
bility constan
(m3/min))n m, Q is th
he wastewateer flow (m3/min),
/ n andd x are emppirical constaants (n is ussually
0.5; x is 0.5
0 for rock and 0.3 for cross-flow
c plastic
p mediaa)

Problem
m 4.4.1: Calcculate the vaalues of kf an
nd influent B
BOD (So) to trickling filter for R/Q (ratio
of recyclle flow ratee to hydraullic loading) value of 1..65. Given that: raw seettled BOD after
primary settling (Sa)=
=220 mg/l; hydraulic
h oading (Q)=330 m3/(d. m2); depth of filter (D)=1.5 m;
lo
n=0.5 and effluent BOD after seccondary settlling (S)=35 m
mg/l.

Solution
n:
Q a  QRS  (Q  QR )So
QS
) o  QSa (1   QR Q )So  Sa
(Q  QR )S
S 
QR  QR Q 
Also,
QSa  Q R S Sa   Q R Q  S
So  
Q  QR 1   QR Q 
On puttin
ng values in last equation
n, we get,
 220  1.63  35
So   104.81 mg/l
1  1.65
From Eckenfelder equation,
S  kfD
 exp   n 
So  Q 

35  k f  1.5 
 exp   0.5 
104.81  30 

k f  4.004 m-1/2d -1/2

REFERENCES
[1] Adams , C. E ., Aulenbach , D. B. L., Bollyky, J., Burns , D. E ., Canter , L. W., Crits,
G. J., Dahlstrom, D. Lee, K.  David, H. F., Liptak, B. G. “Wastewater Treatment",
Environmental Engineers Handbook, 2nd Edition, CRC Press, 1997.
[2] Peavy, H. S., Rowe, D. R., Tchobanoglous, G. “Environmental Engineering”, McGraw-
Hill, 1985.
[3] http://h2o.ehnr.state.nc.us/tacu/documents/trickling_filter.pdf
[4] Davis, M. L., Cornwell, D. A. “Introduction to Environmental Engineering”, McGraw
Hill, 4th edition, 2008, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2000, 832-F-00-
014.
[5] Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. “Wastewater Engineering Treatment and Reuse” 4th edition, 2003.
[6] Eckenfelder, W.W. Jr. “Industrial Water Pllution Control”, McGraw-Hill, USA, 1996.