Environmental and Safety Engineering

by

Prof. (Mrs.) Kakoli K. Paul

SECONDARY TREATMENT
 TRICKLING FILTER

A trickling filter is a type of wastewater treatment system. Trickling

filter is an attached growth process i.e. process in which
microorganisms responsible for treatment are attached to an inert
packing material. It consists of a fixed bed of rocks, coke, gravel, etc
over which sewage flows downward and causes a layer of microbial
slime (biofilm) to grow covering the bed of media.
 Working of Trickling Filter
The wastewater in trickling filter is distributed over the top area of
filter material.
Air circulation provides oxygen for the microorganisms that are
growing as an attached biofilm.
The sloughed off film and treated wastewater are collected by an
underdrainage which also allows circulation of air through filter.
The treated sewage is passed to a settling tank used for solid- liquid
separation.
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.
Sewage Treated sewage
inlet outlet

TRICKLING FILTER
 Design Factor for Trickling Filter
• Hydraulic loading rate.
• Incoming BOD of influent feed.
• Depth of settling tank.
• Recirculation ratio.
 Types of Trickling Filter

• Conventional Trickling Filter

• High Rate Trickling Filter

Recirculation of sewage through the filter

The high rate trickling filter, single stage or two stage are

recommended for medium to relatively high strength
domestic and industrial wastewater. 
 Advantages of Trickling Filter

• Require lesser land area due to high loading

• Effluent is stabilized, remove about 75%BOD and 80% Suspended
solids
• Working is simple
• Moisture content of sludge is as high as 99%
Disadvantages of Trickling Filter
• Cost of construction is high
• Cannot treat raw sewage, primary sedimentation is required
• Fly nuisance
• Odour nuisance
 Design of Trickling Filter

Filter diametre and depth are designed for average sewage flow
and underdrainage system is designed for peak flow

HYDRAULIC LOADING RATE

Conventional trickling filter: 22ML/ha/d to 110 ML/ha/d
High rate trickling filter: 110ML/ha/d to 330 ML/ha/d

ORGANIC LOADING RATE

Conventional trickling filter: 900 to 2200 kg BOD5 /ha-m
High rate trickling filter: 6000 to 18000 kg BOD5 /ha-m
 Conventional Trickling Filter

Single stage High Rate Trickling Filter

Double stage High Rate Trickling Filter

Q) Design suitable dimensions of a circular trickling filter to treat
sewage of 3MLD having BOD5 of 200 mg/l. Assume any relevant
data, if required.
 
= Efficiency (%) of conventional trickling filter
Y = Organic loading (kgBOD5)
V = Volume of filter (ha-m)

= Efficiency (%) single stage high rate trickling filter

Y = Organic loading (kgBOD5)
V = Volume of filter (ha-m)
F= Recirculation factor
R= recirculated sewage
I= Influent sewage