Trickling Filter
Trickling filter is a secondary treatment consists of attached growth process. A
trickling filter consists of:
▪ A bed of coarse materials like stones, gravel or plastic media over which
wastewater from primary sedimentation tank is sprayed;
▪ An underdrainage system; and
▪ Distributors.
Trickling Filter
Trickling Filter
Trickling Filter
• The underdrainage system is used to carry wastewater passing through the biological filter and
drain to the subsequent treatment units and to provide ventilation of the filter and maintenance of
the aerobic condition. Wastewater from the primary effluent is distributed to the surface of the filter
bed by fixed spray nozzles or rotary distributors. The biomass from media are settled in secondary
sedimentation tank.
• Biological slime occurs on the surface of the support media while oxygen is supplied by air
diffusion through the void spaces. It allows wastewater to trickle downward through the bed media.
• Organic and inorganic nutrients are extracted from the liquid film by the microorganisms in the
substance (slime). The biological slime layer consists of aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative
bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoans. Higher animals such as sludge worms, filter fly larvae,
rotifers, and snails are also present. Facultative bacteria are the predominant microorganisms in the
trickling filter. Nitrifying bacteria may occur in the lower part of a deep filter.
Trickling Filter
• The microbial layer on the filter is aerobic usually to a depth of only 0.1 to 0.2 cm. Most of the
depth of the microbial film is anaerobic. As the wastewater flows over the slime layer, organic
matter (nutrient) and dissolved oxygen are transferred to the aerobic zone by diffusion and
extracted, and then metabolic end products such as carbon dioxide are released to the water.
• Dissolved oxygen in the liquid is replenished by adsorption from air in the voids surrounding the
support media. Microorganisms near the surface of the filter bed are in a rapid growth rate due to
plenteous food supply, whereas microorganisms in the lower portion of the filter may be in a state
of starvation. Overall, a trickling filter operation is considered to be in the endogenous growth
phase. When slime layer becomes thicker and cells die the slime layer will come to the top and is
subsequently removed by secondary settling.
Trickling Filter
• In a rock-fill trickling filter, the stone size is 25 to 100 mm. The depth of the rock
bed varies from 0.9 to 2.5 m with an average of 1.8 m. The filter media generally
preferred over rocks because they are lighter, increased the surface area for
biological growth, and improved treatment efficiency.
• The depths of plastic media range from 4 to 12 m. These materials increase void
ratios and air flow. The plastics are lighter than rock. A minimum clearance of 0.3
m between media and distribution arms shall be provided.
Trickling Filter
Classification of Trickling Filter
Trickling filters are classified according to the applied hydraulic and organic
loading rates. The hydraulic loading rate is expressed as the quantity of
wastewater applied per day per unit area of bulk filter surface m3/( m2-day) or as
depth of wastewater applied per unit of time. Organic loading rate is expressed as
mass of BOD5 applied per day per unit of bulk filter volume (Kg / m3-day).
Common classifications, are low- or standard-rate, intermediate-rate, high-rate,
super high-rate, and roughing. Two-stage filters are frequently used, in which
two trickling filters are connected in series.
Recirculation
• Recirculation of a portion of the effluent to flow back through the filter is generally practised in
trickling filter plants. The ratio of the return flow Qr, to the influent flow Q is called the
recirculation ratio r.
• Recirculation vary widely, with a variety of configurations. The recirculation ratios range from 0 to
4 with usual ratios being 0.5 to 3.0.
• The advantages of recirculation include an increase in biological solids in the system with
continuous seeding of active biological material; maintenance of more uniform hydraulic and
organic loads; an increase in the DO level of the influent; thinning of the biological slime layer; an
improvement of treatment efficiency; reduction of filter clogging; and less nuisance problems.
Design of trickling filter
Design Formula:
The design of trickling filter plants is based on empirical, semi-empirical, and mass
balance concepts. Mathematical equations have been developed for calculating the
BOD5 removal efficiency of biological filters on the basis of factors such as bed
depth, types of media, recirculation, temperature, and loading rates. National
Research Council (NRC) is one of the common formula used for efficiency of the
system.
Design of trickling filter
Design of trickling filter
Trickling Filter
Hydraulic Loading Rate (V p or Vs ):
The ratio of the raw sewage flow to a surface area of the trickling filter is termed as Hydraulic loading rate (HLR) or
surface overflow rate. HLR can be denoted by V p or Vs . For zero circulation rate V p = Q /A s (m3/m2.day) where Q is
the sewage flow and A s is the surface area of filter unit.
For a circulation rate “r” (r = Q r / Q) V p = ( Q +Q r /A s) = Q (1 + r) / A s.
Organic Loading Rate (OLR):
It is the ratio of total quantity of BOD load to the total volume of the trickling filter.
OLR= Total BOD load on daily basis / Total volume of filter
= BOD (mg/L) * Q (m3/day) / V (m3)
= (BOD) *Q /1000 V (Kg/(m3-day )
It can also be written as OLR = Q.X / (1000 V)
