Trickling Filter

Trickling Filter
Trickling filter is a secondary treatment consists of attached growth process. A
trickling filter consists of:

(i) A bed of coarse materials like stones, gravel or plastic media over which wastewater
from primary sedimentation tank is sprayed;

(ii) An underdrainage system; and

(iii) distributors.

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.
 Trickling Filter
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.
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
 Trickling Filter
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.

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)
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.
 Trickling Filter (Recirculation and Design)
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 formulas
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.
 Trickling Filter Design Formula
NRC formula. The NRC formula for trickling-filter performance is an
empirical expression developed by the National Research Council. It may
be applied to single-stage and multistage rock filters with varying
recirculation ratios.

100
The formula is E = Where E = Efficiency of T.F; Q = flow
1+ 0.532 𝑄𝐶𝑖𝑛/𝑉𝐹

in m3/minute; Ci = BOD influent to TF at 200C (mg/L); V = volume of filter

1+𝑟
media in m3 and F = recirculation factor and is F =
(1+0.1𝑟)2

where r = Qr/Q ; Qr is the recirculation of wastewater and Q is the

wastewater flow to T.F .

𝐶𝑖−𝐶𝑒
Also E = ∗ 100 . Where C i is the influent concentration of
𝐶𝑖

impurity in mg/ L and Ce is the effluent impurity (BOD).

 Trickling Filter Design Formula
100
In case of two stages for second stage the formula is E2 = 0.532
1+
1−𝐸1 𝑄𝐶𝑒/𝑉𝐹2

The effect of temperature on efficiency is ET = E20 (Θ)(T-20) where Θ =

1.035 for T.F A typical cycle required is 12 hours (6 for operation and 6
for cleaning).
The overall BOD removal efficiency of a two-stage filter system can be
computed by E = 100 – 100 (1-0.35) (1-E1) (1-E2)

•
.
• 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.

• Organic Loading rate : 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)

Parameters Standard T.F High rate T.F
Hydraulic Loading rate (m3) / ( m2 -day) 1-4 10-40
Organic Loading rate Kg of BOD / ( m3 –day) 0.08 -0.32 0.32 – 1.0
BOD removal 80 -85 % 60 -80%