Performance of a biofilter system with agave fiber filter media for municipal wastewater treatment

2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Manuel Vigueras-Cortés ◽  
Ignacio Villanueva-Fierro ◽  
Marco Antonio Garzón-Zúñiga ◽  
José de Jesús Návar-Cháidez ◽  
Isaías Chaires-Hernández ◽  
...  

Agave plants grow in semi-arid regions and are used for mescal production. However, agave fiber by-products are considered waste materials. Thus, we tested agave fiber as a filter media and biofilm material carrier for removing pollutants from municipal wastewater. Three laboratory-scale biofiltration reactors were used in two trials with five hydraulic loading rates (HLRs = 0.27, 0.54, 0.80, 1.07 and 1.34 m3 m−2 d−1). One series was conducted using mechanical aeration (0.62 m3 m−2 h−1). To prevent compaction, decreasing pressure and clogging of the filter media, 4, 8 and 12 internal divisions were evaluated in the biofilter column. After 17 months of continuous operation at an HLR of 0.80 m3 m−2 d−1, the removal efficiencies of the aerated biofilters were 92.0% biochemical oxygen demand, 79.7% chemical oxygen demand, 98.0% helminth eggs, 99.9% fecal coliforms and 91.9% total suspended solids. Statistical analysis showed that the chosen operational parameters significantly influenced the removal efficiencies of the biofilters. The effluent quality obtained under these conditions complied with the Mexican and US EPA standards for agricultural irrigation and green spaces, except for coliforms, which is why the effluents must be disinfected. Thus, agave fiber is a favorable choice for use as a packing material in biofiltration processes.

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1454-1462 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Sosa-Hernández ◽  
J. M. Vigueras-Cortés ◽  
M. A. Garzón-Zúñiga

The biofiltration system over organic bed (BFOB) uses organic filter material (OFM) to treat municipal wastewater (MWW). This study evaluated the performance of a BFOB system employing mesquite wood chips (Prosopis) as OFM. It also evaluated the effect of hydraulic loading rates (HLRs) in order to achieve the operational parameters required to remove organic matter, suspended material, and pathogens, thus meeting Mexican and US regulations for reuse in irrigation. Two biofilters (BFs) connected in series were installed; the first one aerated (0.62 m3air m−2h−1) and the second one unaerated. The source of MWW was a treatment plant located in Durango, Mexico. For 200 days, three HLRs (0.54, 1.07, and 1.34 m3m−2d−1) were tested. The maximum HLR at which the system showed a high removal efficiency of pollutants and met regulatory standards for reuse in irrigation was 1.07 m3m−2d−1, achieving removal efficiencies of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) 92%, chemical oxygen demand (COD) 78%, total suspended solids (TSS) 95%, and four log units of fecal coliforms. Electrical conductivity in the effluent ensures that it would not cause soil salinity. Therefore, mesquite wood chips can be considered an innovative material suitable as OFM for BFs treating wastewaters.


2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (12) ◽  
pp. 315-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Wang ◽  
J. Peng ◽  
B. Wang ◽  
R. Cao

An on-site study on the operational performance of a combined eco-system of ponds and SF constructed wetland for municipal wastewater treatment and reclamation/reuse in Donging City, Shandong, China was carried out from January 2001 through October 2003. The removal efficiencies for various main parameters were: TSS 84.8±7.3%, BOD5 87.2±5.3%, CODCr 70.2±18.6%, TP 52.3±23.1%, and NH3-N 54.8±23.9% with effluent concentration of TSS 9.12±5.12 mg/l, BOD5 6.44±4.58 mg/l, CODCr 42.8±6.7 mg/l, TP 0.94±0.27 mg/l and NH3-N 7.95±2.36 mg/l. In addition, the removal efficiencies for faecal coliforms and total bacteria were >99.97% and >99.998% respectively, which well meet Chinese National standards for effluent quality of municipal wastewater treatment plants. The composition of TSS was closely related to CODCr and BOD5 variations, and nitrification-denitrification is the major mechanism of nitrogen removal both in ponds and in wetlands. In addition, sedimentation also played an important role in the removal of TSS, nitrogen, phosphorus and BOD5. The removal efficiencies of various parameters, the number of species and biomass of biological community in the system increased gradually with the ecological maturation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 1784-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Said Ines ◽  
Mezghani Imed ◽  
Donyez Frikha ◽  
Chaieb Mohamed ◽  
Muscolo Adele

This study aims to evaluate the possibility of using reclaimed municipal wastewater for agricultural purpose. We assessed the validity of municipal wastewater treatment, analyzing its chemical characteristics before and after the biological stabilization by pond treatment (WSP). The reclaimed municipal treated wastewater (TWW) was used to irrigate Cenchrus ciliaris. Experiments were carried out in greenhouse, from July 2013 to July 2014, comparing the effects of TWW with the water normally used for irrigation (tap water, TW) on the growth and flowering parameters of C. ciliaris. During this study, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella spp. were detected in TW, TWW, soils and plants under irrigation. Our results evidenced that TWW increased plant growth, producing taller plants with respect to TW. Total coliforms and fecal coliforms in TWW, TW, soils and plants were under the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Salmonella was never found in TW, TWW, or soil and plants irrigated with TWW. The absence of pathogens suggests that the pond treatment is an effective method to reclaim wastewater, lowering biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and pathogens. In this respect, TWW can be used as a valid alternative to freshwater for irrigation of fodder species.


2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 683-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edson Baltazar Estrada-Arriaga ◽  
Yvonne Guillen-Alonso ◽  
Cornelio Morales-Morales ◽  
Liliana García-Sánchez ◽  
Erick Obed Bahena-Bahena ◽  
...  

Two different air-cathode stacked microbial fuel cell (MFC) configurations were evaluated under continuous flow during the treatment of municipal wastewater and electricity production at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3, 1, and 0.5 d. Stacked MFC 1 was formed by 20 individual air-cathode MFC units. The second stacked MFC (stacked MFC 2) consisted of 40 air-cathode MFC units placed in a shared reactor. The maximum voltages produced at closed circuit (1,000 Ω) were 170 mV for stacked MFC 1 and 94 mV for stacked MFC 2. Different power densities in each MFC unit were obtained due to a potential drop phenomenon and to a change in chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations inside reactors. The maximum power densities from individual MFC units were up to 1,107 mW/m2 for stacked MFC 1 and up to 472 mW/m2 for stacked MFC 2. The maximum power densities in stacked MFC 1 and MFC 2 connected in series were 79 mW/m2 and 4 mW/m2, respectively. Electricity generation and COD removal efficiencies were reduced when the HRT was decreased. High removal efficiencies of 84% of COD, 47% of total nitrogen, and 30% of total phosphorus were obtained during municipal wastewater treatment.


Author(s):  
Rana Muhammad Asif Kanwar ◽  
Zahid Mahmood Khan ◽  
Hafiz Umar Farid

Abstract A pilot scale trickling filter system was designed, developed, and operated using a constant recirculation method for treatment of municipal wastewater. Maize cob (TF1) and date palm fibre (TF2) were used as biofilm support media in a trickling filter system. Both the TF1 and TF2 were compared based on the removal efficiency of pollution indicators such as biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and sulphates. The hydraulic flow rate and loading were set as 0.432 m3/h and 0.0064 m3/m2.minute, respectively at temperature range of 15–42 °C for 15 operational weeks. Both the TF1 and TF2 showed acceptable removal efficiency (61% to 76.3%) for pathogen indicators such as total count, fecal coliforms and E. Coli. However, 8–15% higher removal efficiency was observed for TF1 for all the pollution indicators compared to TF2. The results suggest that both the biofilm support media in trickling filter have potential to treat municipal wastewater in peri-urban small communities to produce environmentally friendly effluent.


Author(s):  
S. Kitanou ◽  
H. Ayyoub ◽  
J. Touir ◽  
A. Zdeg ◽  
S. Benabdallah ◽  
...  

Abstract In this study, the performance of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) and anoxic–aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) are compared in treating municipal wastewater. The aim of the work was to determine the feasibility of thus systems for the removal of organics matter and nutriments from the municipal wastewater. The MBR displayed a superior performance with removal efficiencies exceeding 99% for TSS, 94% for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and an improvement on SBR efficiencies was found. In the same way, the MBR produced an effluent with much better quality than SBR in terms of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies. Combining membrane separation and biodegradation processes or the membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology improved pollution removal efficiencies significantly.


2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. González-Barceló ◽  
S. González-Martínez

Biological aerated filtration is a viable option for small municipal wastewater treatment plants. A low cost filter media was obtained by triturating volcanic rock. An apparent porosity of 46 % and a specific surface area of 395 m2/m3·d were obtained once the filter was packed by using a grain size of 8.2 mm. The performance of the system, operated as a biological filter, was evaluated under an average organic load of 2.6±0.4 kgCODT/m3·d (6.7±1.1 gCODT/m2·d) without primary and secondary settling. The average CODT decreased from 220 mg/l in the influent to 88 mg/l in the effluent and the CODD was decreased from 148 mg/l in the influent to 50 mg/l in the effluent. The filter media, in combination with the biofilm, allowed a 75 % TSS removal. The ammonia nitrogen decreased from 51 mg/l in the influent to 33 mg/l in the effluent. The maximum flux coefficients of 9.3gCODdissolved/m2·d and 2.9gNH4-N/m2·d at the biofilm surface were used to simulate, with the Michaelis-Menten model, the profiles of dissolved COD, ammonium and nitrates through the aerated filter. It was possible to conclude that the backwashing procedure removed the excess biomass and was responsible for a homogeneous distribution of heterotrophic and autotrophic microorganisms along the filter depth.


1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 121-133
Author(s):  
C Forsberg ◽  
B Hawerman ◽  
B Hultman

Experience from advanced municipal wastewater treatment plants and recovery of polluted waters are described for the last ten years in Sweden. Except in municipalities with large recipients, the urban population is served by treatment plants with combined biological and chemical treatment. Most of these plants are post-precipitation plants. Several modified operational modes have been developed in order to improve the removal efficiencies of pollutants and to reduce the costs. Results are presented on the recovery of specially investigated lakes with a lowered supply of total phosphorus and organic matter.


Author(s):  
Klaus Doelle ◽  
Qian Wang

The study tested a designed and built pilot scale packed bio-tower system under continuous operation using pre-clarified municipal wastewater. Performance was evaluated by measuring the removal of chemical oxygen demand and nitrogen ammonia. The pilot scale packed bio-tower system had a diameter of 1209 mm (4 ft.) and a height of 3,962 mm (13 ft.) and contained Bentwood CF-1900 bacteria growth media with a surface area of 6,028.80 ft² (560.09 m²). The municipal residential sewage was fed into a 1,481 l (375 gal.) recirculation reservoir at a temperature of 15°C (59.0°F) and a flow rate between 7,571 l/d (2000 gal/d) and 90,850 l/d (24,000 gal/d) and recirculated through the bio-tower with a fixed recirculation rate of 75.7 l/min (20 gal/min). The influent COD value reduction achieved is between 63.4% and 84.8%, whereas the COD influent value varied between 87 mg/l and 140 mg/l. The influent NH3-N reduction achieved was between 99.8% and 91.8% whereas the influent NH3-N value was between 28.8 mg/l and 18.6 mg/l  at a flow rate between 7571 l/d (2000 gal/d) and 90,850 l/d (24,000 gal/d).


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 515-527
Author(s):  
L. Desa ◽  
P. Kängsepp ◽  
L. Quadri ◽  
G. Bellotti ◽  
K. Sørensen ◽  
...  

Abstract Many wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in touristic areas struggle to achieve the effluent requirements due to seasonal variations in population. In alpine areas, the climate also determines a low wastewater temperature, which implies long sludge retention time (SRT) needed for the growth of nitrifying biomass in conventional activated sludge (CAS). Moreover, combined sewers generate high flow and dilution. The present study shows how the treatment efficiency of an existing CAS plant with tertiary treatment can be upgraded by adding a compact line in parallel, consisting of a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR)-coagulation-flocculation-disc filtration. This allows the treatment of influent variations in the MBBR and a constant flow supply to the activated sludge. The performance of the new 2-step process was comparable to that of the improved existing one. Regardless significant variations in flow (10,000–25,000 m3/d) and total suspended solids (TSS) (50–300 mg/L after primary treatment) the effluent quality fulfilled the discharge requirements. Based on yearly average effluent data, TSS were 11 mg/L, chemical oxygen demand (COD) 27 mg/L and total phosphorus (TP) 0.8 mg/L. After the upgrade, ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) dropped from 4.9 mg/L to 1.3 mg/L and the chemical consumption for phosphorus removal was reduced.


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