Secondary Treatment

(Biological Treatment)
• The techniques used in biological treatment are classified as
either:
a. Attached growth process.
b. Suspended growth process.

c. Attached growth process:

• This process utilize a solid media upon which bacteria solids
are accumulated in order to maintain a high population.
Attached growth process include intermittent sand filter,
trickling filter, rotating biological contactors and others.
Trickling Filter:
Trick ling filter utilize a relatively porous media such as rock,
plastic materials, …etc.

Bacteria growth occurs upon the surface while oxygen is

provided by air diffusion through the void spaces (in some recent
trickling filters air is compressed through pivoted pipes). The
wastewater is applied to the surface usually in an intermittent
fashion and percolates through the filter flowing over the
biological layer.
• As the bacteria on the filter surface metabolize the waste,
they will reproduce gradually producing thickening of the
biological layer (it can reach 10 mm), the bacteria in the
interiors layer find themselves in a nutrient limited situation
since the organic matter and oxygen are utilized near the
surface. Eventually, these cells die, slough off and be carried
from the filter with wastewater flow.
• Sloughing phenomena is primarily a function of organic and
hydraulic load.
Filter Classification:
1. Low rate trickling filter
Organic loading 0.3 - 1.5 kg BOD/m3 of filter volume. day
Hydraulic loading 1.8 – 3.7 m3/m2 of filter surface area. day

Recirculation of water is not common in low rate filter.

2. High rate trickling filter

Organic loading 1.5 - 12.7 kg BOD/m3 of filter volume. day
Hydraulic loading 9.3 – 28 m3/m2 of filter surface area. day
Employing recirculation of water around the filter.
Recirculation:
The advantages of recirculation include
a. increase in biological solids in the system.
b. dilution of influent with belter quality water (decrease the
biological oxidation rate in the upper initial sections of a
trickling filter to help maintain aerobic operating condition) .
c. Improved liquid distribution on the filter surface.
d. better control of biofilm thickness.

Recirculation rate range from 50 -300% of wastewater flow.

Disadvantages of trickling filter:
a. poorer effluent quality in terms of BOD and TSS concentration.
b. sensitivity to lower temperature.
c. odor production.
d. difficulty in accomplishing biological nitrogen and phosphorous
removal.

Design of trickling filter:

• The design of trickling filters is based on empirical formulas.
Many formulas were developed such as Velz formula,
Eckenfelder formula, Schulze formula, Germain equation….. etc.
• National Research Council (NRC) formula was based on
observation of many rock trickling filters, and it takes the
following form:
The formula above is used for single stage system or it is used for
the first stage of two stage system.
Ci : influent BOD
Ce : effluent BOD
Q: flow of wastewater (m3/min)
V: filter volume in (m3)
F: recirculation factor r:Qr/Q
For the second stage, the formula becomes:

: is the effluent BOD of the second stage , are the volume and
recirculation factor for the second stage.
EX. Calculate the effluent BOD5 of a two stage trickling filter
treating a wastewater flow of 3.15 m3/min with BOD5 of 290
mg/L. Assume volume of filter no.1 = volume of filter no 2 = 830
m3 and recirculation of filter no 1 = 125% and filter no 2 = 100%.
Sol.
For the first stage :

ce = 85.5 mg/L
For the second stage:

Ce = 38 mg/L
Ex/ Trickling filter with volume of 1000 m3, depth = 2.67 m, r =
150% used to treat wastewater with flow of 2.6 m3/ min BOD5 =
160 mg/L. Calculate hydraulic load and organic load.
Sol.
Hydraulic load = (Q + Q r) / A
A = V/D = 1000/ 2.67 = 374.5 m3
Hydraulic load = (3744+1.5x3744)/374.5 = 25 m3/m2.day.

Organic load = (Q x Ci) / V = (3744 x 0.16)/ 1000 x 1000

= 0.6 kg BOD/m3 . day