Design and Development of a Small Scale Wastewater Treatment System Chapter I

with Recirculating Media Filter as Second Treatment to the Swine Liquid Waste The Problem and its
Treated with LABS and Moringa Oleifera Seeds by Arias, J.V.T., De la Rama, Background
C.J. R, Dela Torre, D.A., Pasajol, N.T., Villanueva, D.M.

In a study conducted by K.A. Yongabi (2010) entitled Biocoagulants for Water

and Waste Water Purification: a Review, a survey and inventory of indigenous

knowledge and plants used by rural Africans to purify water was carried out. The

findings indicated that from time immemorial indigenous people have had to use rich

knowledge base to treat their water. Plants identified were Moringa oleifera, Jatropha

curcas, Pleurotus tuberregium, Citruss aurontifolia, Strynos potatorium. A review of the

of the potentials of these plants coagulants with respect to turbidity removal and

disinfection of water borne diseases facing the drawbacks of chemical coagulants and

disinfectants such as Alum and Chlorine have been presented. Studies conclusively

demonstrates that biocoagulants especially Moringa oleifera seeds are as efficient as

Alum in purifying water and wastewater at low cost.

In the study entitled Evaluation of the Effect of the Seed Extract of Moringa

oleifera Lam Over The Efficiency Of Organic Filters in Wastewater Treatment of Dairy

Cattle Breeding, Francisco, J.P. et al. (2014) aimed to evaluate the effect of Moringa

oleifera Lam extract on the removal of total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS)

and chemical oxygen demand (COD), in different filter media for treating wastewater of

dairy cattle breeding (DCW). The moringa seed extract was obtained by grinding 50 g of

seeds in one liter of distilled water and, after passing the solution through a quantitative

paper filter of 25 microns, 60 mL of the extract were added to wastewater from cattle

breeding before the filtration process in organic filters made of thin coal, bamboo

leaves, eucalyptus leaves, gliricidia branches and sawdust. This was followed by the

completely randomized experimental design, adopting a factorial of 5 x 2. Aliquots of

filtered effluent were collected and the total solids (TS) concentrations, total suspended

solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were determined. It was found that

the increase in the efficiency of removal of COD and total solids can be attributed to the

coagulating power of the moringa seed extract, wherein the filter medium with bamboo
Design and Development of a Small Scale Wastewater Treatment System Chapter I
with Recirculating Media Filter as Second Treatment to the Swine Liquid Waste The Problem and its
Treated with LABS and Moringa Oleifera Seeds by Arias, J.V.T., De la Rama, Background
C.J. R, Dela Torre, D.A., Pasajol, N.T., Villanueva, D.M.

leaves presented the best performance, showing potential for use as alternative filter

material in the primary treatment of DCW.

In the study entitled “Swine Wastewater by Media Filtration”, Rice, J.M., et al. (2014)

studied and constructed media filter to treat swine wastewater after anaerobic lagoon treatment.

The media filter consisted of a tank (1.5-m-diameter x O.6-m-height) filled with marl gravel. The

marl gravel had a carbonate content of 300 g kg-. Gravel particle size distributions were 85 and

14% in the 4.7- to 12.7-mm and 12.7- to 19-mm size classes respectively. Pore space of the

filtration unit was 57%. Wastewater flow rate was 606 L m-2 dol, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen

(TKN) load was 198 g m-2 dol. The media filter removed 54% of chemical oxygen demand

(COD) content after one cycle, but increased cycling did not produce additional COD reduction.

Total suspended solids (TSS) removal after one cycle was 50% of initial levels, and additional

cycling reduced TSS levels at a much lower rate of 7% per cycle. Removal efficiencies for total

phosphorus (TP) ranged from 37% to 52% (one to four cycles), but long-tern phosphorus

removal would be limited by the sorption capacity of the gravel. Up to 24% of TKN was

converted to nitrate-plus-nitrite-N (NO)+NO2-N). Effluents with high NO3+NO2-N levels can

be treated further for denitrification with constructed wetlands or anaerobic lagoon. This is

important in cases where land is limited for wastewater application.

As mentioned previously, the main constituents that must be removed from sewage effluent

before it can be used for unrestricted irrigation are pathogenic organisms. Nitrogen

concentration might also have to be reduced and suspended solids and biodegradable materials

should perhaps be removed to protect the irrigation system or for aesthetic reasons. If the

renovated water is to be used for recreational lakes or discharged into surface water,

phosphorus should also be removed to prevent algal growth in the receiving water. The

following sections describe how these constituents are removed or reduced in SAT systems.

Biofiltration has the ability to accomplish the following functions.

Manure
Design and Development of a Small Scale Wastewater Treatment System Chapter I
with Recirculating Media Filter as Second Treatment to the Swine Liquid Waste The Problem and its
Treated with LABS and Moringa Oleifera Seeds by Arias, J.V.T., De la Rama, Background
C.J. R, Dela Torre, D.A., Pasajol, N.T., Villanueva, D.M.

Recirculating Media Filters Study Guide - Subclass A3

https://dnr.wi.gov/regulations/opcert/documents/StudyGuideRecirculatingMediaFilter.pdf

List the environmental conditions that support the growth of aerobic bacteria in a recirculating media

filter.

Aerobic treatment processes must operate under the proper environmental conditions to support a

healthy, growing population of microorganisms in the filter media for efficient wastewater treatment.

The following factors will affect a healthy population of microorganisms: A. Food Incoming wastewater

to a treatment plant provides the food that microorganisms need for their growth and reproduction.

This food is mostly organic material. The more soluble organic material is, the more easily

microorganisms can use it. Since the amount and type of organic loading in the treatment plant affects

the growth of the microorganisms, influent total biochemical oxygen demand 5-day test (BOD5) and

soluble BOD5 are tests an operator can perform to determine the amount and type of incoming food for

the microorganisms. B. Flow Incoming wastewater must flow through a treatment plant at a rate that

allows microorganisms sufficient time to consume the incoming food (BOD). The recirculation ratio is

thus very important for the proper level of treatment (see key knowledges 2.2.1 and 2.2.11). C. Oxygen

Recirculating media filters are an aerobic process. Many bacteria in the filter need free oxygen (O2) to

convert food into energy for their growth. Dosing cycles, proper organic loading, and pump rest periods

help ensure adequate oxygen in the bed. D. Temperature All biological and chemical reactions are

affected by temperature. Microorganisms’ growth and reaction rates are slow at cold temperatures and

much faster at warmer temperatures. Most microorganisms do best under moderate temperatures,

10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F). E. pH Biological and chemical reactions are affected by pH. Most

microorganisms do well in a pH environment of 6.0 to 9.0. Acidic (low pH) or alkaline (high pH)

conditions can adversely affect microorganism growth and survival. Operators need to measure influent

pH to ensure proper plant pH conditions. F. Nutrients Microorganisms need trace nutrients such as

nitrogen, phosphorus, and some metals for their metabolism. Most incoming wastewater to a treatment

plant, especially domestic, contains an abundance of these trace nutrients. The ratio of BOD to nitrogen

to phosphorus should be at least 100:5:1. Influent wastewater can be tested to determine this nutrient

ratio. G. Toxicity Incoming wastewater to a treatment plant may, at times, contain materials or

compounds that are toxic to microorganisms. Depending on the concentration of toxic material,

microorganisms could be destroyed or their metabolic rates affected, thus impairing the wastewater

treatment plant efficiency.

Design and Development of a Small Scale Wastewater Treatment System Chapter I
with Recirculating Media Filter as Second Treatment to the Swine Liquid Waste The Problem and its
Treated with LABS and Moringa Oleifera Seeds by Arias, J.V.T., De la Rama, Background
C.J. R, Dela Torre, D.A., Pasajol, N.T., Villanueva, D.M.

Section 1.2 - Principles of Recirculating Media Filters

Discuss the applicability of using recirculating media filters for wastewater treatment.

Recirculating media filters should be used only for residential strength waste and is most applicable to

small rural communities. High-strength wastes from commercial or industrial users may cause organic

overloading, in turn causing fouling of the filter media leading to ponding and clogging of the

distribution piping. High-strength waste may also cause the loss of treatment within the system.

Recirculating media filters may be a good option for small communities that need to provide a higher

degree of treatment than ponds or lagoons can provide but is simpler and less costly to operate than

mechanical activated sludge treatment systems.

Recirculating media filters are an aerobic, attached growth, secondary treatment unit following primary

treatment. The treatment process utilizes aerobic microorganisms that grow on the filter media. The

typical depth of the filter media is 24 to 36 inches, with most biological treatment occurring in the upper

12 inches of the filter media. Under the aerobic conditions of the recirculating media filter, the

microorganisms oxidize organic matter present in the wastewater. The treatment process is a

combination of biological decomposition, biochemical conversions, and filtration.

TYPES OF PACKINGS A REVIEW OF BIOFILTRATION

PACKINGS http://biofilters.com/webreview.htm
1. Rock and Gravel - Various sizes of gravel and rocks have been used since the

nineteenth century in biofilters. They are still used for a variety of applications including

aquariums, aquaculture and municipal sewage treatment plants. They are readily

available, inexpensive, can have relatively high specific surface areas, wettable,

typically very inert and durable with excellent mechanical strength. The main

disadvantage to gravel type filters is their very low void fraction and tend to plug rapidly.

2. Fiber Mesh Pads - Various types of mesh pads are in use today as biofilters.

These pads use thin fibers similar to air conditioning filters but are formed into heavier

and thicker pads. They can act as both a physical filter and a biological filter. They are

light in weight and have more surface area per unit volume than any other type of

packing. Unfortunately, fiber mesh pads suffer from the same major drawback as gravel
Design and Development of a Small Scale Wastewater Treatment System Chapter I
with Recirculating Media Filter as Second Treatment to the Swine Liquid Waste The Problem and its
Treated with LABS and Moringa Oleifera Seeds by Arias, J.V.T., De la Rama, Background
C.J. R, Dela Torre, D.A., Pasajol, N.T., Villanueva, D.M.

filters and the difficulty of installing the large quantities of pad needed for a production

system.

3. Brillo Pads - These packings are light in weight and offer relatively large

amounts of surface area at a low cost. But they still suffer from some of the same

drawbacks as the mesh pads.

4. Random or Dumped Packings –These are literally dozens of different types of

injection molded plastic shapes that are available in a wide variety of specific surface

areas, have a good void fraction and relatively high resistance to plugging compared to

mesh pads or gravel beds. In general, random packings have poor mechanical strength

and although random packings are relatively light weight, they are difficult to remove

from a large vessel once they are installed. In addition, a bed of random packings will

tend to settle and compact over time. Another disadvantage of both gravel filters and

random packings is the inability of the operator to determine what is happening in the

interior of the biofilter bed. Moreover, it is not cost-effective. Injection molding is an

expensive way to create surface area.

5. Structured Packings - tructured packings have been used in biofilter applications

for over 40 years. For the municipal and industrial wastewater treatment industry, they

are the packing of choice. Structured packings are typically constructed of vacuum

formed sheets of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which is of low cost. PVC is initially

hydrophobic but normally becomes fully wettable within 1 to 2 weeks. One of the big

advantages of structured packings is their great mechanical strength combined with

light weight. Another is their ease of installation and removal. Typical block sizes are 12"

x 12" x lengths up to 10'. A clean, 10 cu.ft. block with 680 sq.ft. of surface area will only

weigh about 25 lbs. 10 cu.ft. of gravel with a similar surface area would weigh over 1000

lbs. Moreover, structured packings come in a wide range of specific surface areas or densities. The

density is primarily controlled by the sheet spacing.

Design and Development of a Small Scale Wastewater Treatment System Chapter I
with Recirculating Media Filter as Second Treatment to the Swine Liquid Waste The Problem and its
Treated with LABS and Moringa Oleifera Seeds by Arias, J.V.T., De la Rama, Background
C.J. R, Dela Torre, D.A., Pasajol, N.T., Villanueva, D.M.

the importance of organic loading rate (OLR).

The OLR depends on the strength (concentration) of the wastewater and the flow to the filter. The OLR

is expressed as the amount of wastewater applied to the filter media in pounds of biochemical oxygen

demand (BOD) per day per square foot of media surface (lbs of BOD/day/ft²). The recommended loading

rate for a recirculating media filter is 0.003 to 0.005 lbs of BOD/day/ft². Strong wastewater containing

high levels of organic material can reduce a filter's performance over time and result in a clogged filter

or filter odors. Black deposits on the header around the orifices are an indication of anaerobic

conditions created by organic overloading. Conversely, wastewater low in BOD will not support the

microorganisms necessary for treatment.

the significance of hydraulic loading rate (HLR).

The HLR is the volume of wastewater applied to a filter bed in a day. It is controlled by pump dosing

cycles and recirculation rates. During wet weather, collection system infiltration and inflow (I/I) and the

rain falling on the bed itself will increase the HLR. A typical HLR of pre-settled wastewater is 3 to 5

gallons per square foot of filter media per day (gpd/ft²) for coarse sand and gravel media. The HLR will

also affect the organic loading rate based on the BOD of the wastewater being applied. An operator can

control the organic loading rate by regulating the HLR.

Wastewater flows from the primary settling tank into a baffled chamber in the clarifier of the Bioclere.

Dosing pumps located in this clarifier intermittently dose the PVC filter media bed with the wastewater.

In the Bioclere trickling filter the organic material in the wastewater is reduced by a population of

microorganisms whish attach to the filter media and form a biological slime layer. In the outer portion of

the slime layer treatment is accomplished by aerobic microorganisms. As the microorganisms multiply

the biological film thickens and diffused oxygen and organic substrate are consumed before penetrating

the full depth of the slime layer. Consequently the biological film develops aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic

zones. Absent oxygen and a sufficient organic carbon source (CBOD5) the microorganisms near the

media surface lose their ability to cling to the media. The wastewater flowing over the media washes the

slime layer off the media and a new slime layer begins to form. This process of losing the slime layer is

called “sloughing” and it is primarily a function of organic and hydraulic loading on the filter. This natural

process allows a properly designed media bed to be self-purging and maintenance free. The sloughed
Design and Development of a Small Scale Wastewater Treatment System Chapter I
with Recirculating Media Filter as Second Treatment to the Swine Liquid Waste The Problem and its
Treated with LABS and Moringa Oleifera Seeds by Arias, J.V.T., De la Rama, Background
C.J. R, Dela Torre, D.A., Pasajol, N.T., Villanueva, D.M.

biomass settles to the bottom of the clarifier as sludge. This secondary sludge is periodically pumped

back to the primary tank to enhance the digestion and denitrification processes which is further

discussed in Section 6.4.2 below.

A REVIEW OF BIOFILTRATION PACKINGS

http://biofilters.com/webreview.htm

1. Oxidize ammonia to nitrites

2. Oxidize nitrites to nitrates.
2. Remove BOD
3. Add oxygen
4. Remove carbon dioxide
5. Remove excess nitrogen and other inert gasses
6. Remove turbidity and clarify the water
7. Remove various organic contaminants

Equipment

1. Operational Equipments

Dosing pumps and controls

Programmable Logic Relay System

2. Submersible pumps are placed in the first and second tank to pump wastewater to the

filter beds for treatment. Wastewater entering the dosing tanks (agitation/first and

filtration/ and recycle wastewater from the filter bed entering the dosing tank is stored in

the same fashion as a lift station wet well. Once the water level reaches a set point, a

pump(s) is activated to dose a set amount of water to the filter. The set amount is

determined by the float switch in the dosing tank.

3. Recirculating splitter valve The recirculating splitter valve is located in the dosing

chamber and operates by using the water level within the chamber to direct flow either to
Design and Development of a Small Scale Wastewater Treatment System Chapter I
with Recirculating Media Filter as Second Treatment to the Swine Liquid Waste The Problem and its
Treated with LABS and Moringa Oleifera Seeds by Arias, J.V.T., De la Rama, Background
C.J. R, Dela Torre, D.A., Pasajol, N.T., Villanueva, D.M.

the discharge or back into the chamber. After the wastewater is pumped onto the filter

media, the float ball in the splitter valve is lowered. As water flows through the return

line from the media filter, treated wastewater is directed back into the chamber until the

water level in the tank reaches the elevation where the float ball closes the discharge pipe.

Once this occurs, treated wastewater is directed to the discharge until the pump is

activated and the water level of the chamber is lowered.

Wastewater flows from the primary settling tank into a baffled chamber in the clarifier of the

Bioclere. Dosing pumps located in this clarifier intermittently dose the PVC filter media bed

with the wastewater. In the Bioclere trickling filter the organic material in the wastewater is

reduced by a population of microorganisms whish attach to the filter media and form a biological

slime layer. In the outer portion of the slime layer treatment is accomplished by aerobic

microorganisms. As the microorganisms multiply the biological film thickens and diffused

oxygen and organic substrate are consumed before penetrating the full depth of the slime layer.

Consequently the biological film develops aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic zones. Absent oxygen

and a sufficient organic carbon source (CBOD5) the microorganisms near the media surface lose

their ability to cling to the media. The wastewater flowing over the media washes the slime layer

off the media and a new slime layer begins to form. This process of losing the slime layer is

called “sloughing” and it is primarily a function of organic and hydraulic loading on the filter.

This natural process allows a properly designed media bed to be self-purging and maintenance

free. The sloughed biomass settles to the bottom of the clarifier as sludge. This secondary sludge

is periodically pumped back to the primary tank to enhance the digestion and denitrification

processes