23.2. Process description In domestic wastewater treatment, the RBC does not require seeding to establish the biological growth. After RBC systom startup, microor- ganisms naturally present in the wastewater begin to adhere to the rotating media surface and propagate until, in about 1 week, the entire Radial Passages — Figure629. Schematic diagram of airdsive RBC714 Chapteré surface area will be covered with an approximately 1- to 4-mm thick layer of biological mass (biomass). The attached biomass contains about 50,000 to 100,000 mg/L suspended solids (Antonie, 1978). The microor- ganisms in the film of biomass (biofilm) on the media remove biedegrad- able organic matter, nitrogen, and dissolved oxygen in wastewater and convert the pollutants to more benign components (biomass and gaseous by-products). In the first-stage RBC biofilm, the most commonly observed fila- mentous bacterium is Sphaerotilus, Beggiaioa (a sulfur bacterium); Cladothrix, Nocardia, Oscillatoria, and filamentous fungus, Fusarium, are also found, though less frequently. Nonfilamentous organismsin the first stage are Zocloea and Zooglear filipendula, Aerobacter aerogen, Excherichia coli, unicellular rods, spirilla and spirochaetes, and uni- cellular algae. The final stages harbor mostly the same forms of biota in addition to Athrobotrys and Streptomyces reported by investigators (Pretorius, 1971; Torpey et al.. 1971; Pescod and Nair, 1972; Sudo et al. 1977; Clarket al., 1978; Hitdlebaugh and Miller, 1980; Hoag et al., 1980, Kinner et al., 1982). In continuous rotation, the media carry films of wastewater into the air, which then trickle down through the liquid film surface into the bulk liquid (Figs. 6.30 and 6.31). They also provide the surface area neces- sary for absorbing oxygen from air. Intimate contact between the waste- water and the biomass creates aconstantly moving surface area for the bacteria-substrate-oxygen interface. The renewed liquid layer (waste- water film) on the biomass is rich in DO. Both substrates and DOFigure 6.30 Mechanism for attached growth media in RBC syatomAgSATED SECTOR SUBMERGED SECTOR ' NI susstrate NS é 3 z & MEDIA BUeK Liguio sou Figure 631 Relutive concenteation of substrate and dis solved oxygen for a landing condition and RBC rotation apeedasa function of media lncation (sou ree: US EPA 1084)penetrate the liquid film through mixing and diffusion into the biofilm for biological oxidation. Excess DO in the wastewater film is mixed with bulk wastewater in the tank and results in aeration of the wastewater. The rotating media are used for supporting growth of microorganisms and for providing contact between the microorganisms, the substrates, and DO. ‘A group of RBC units is usually separated by baffling into stages to avoid short circuiting in the tank. There can be one shaft or more in a stage. The hydraulic detention time in each stage is relatively short, on 718 Chapter 6 ‘the order of 20min under normal loading. Each RBC stage tends to oper- ate as a complete-mix reactor. The density and species of microbial pop- ulation in each stage can vary significantly, depending on wastewater loading conditions. If RBCs are designed for secondary treatment, heavy microbial growth, shagay and grayin color, develops. Good carbonaceous removal usually occurs in the first and second stages. The succeeding stages can be used for nitrification, if designed, which will exhibit nitri- fier growth, brawn in calor. ‘The shearing process from rotation exerted on the biomass periodi- cally sloughs off the excess biomass from the media into the waste- water stream. This sloughing action prevents bridging and clogging between adjacent media. The mixing action of the rotating media keeps ‘the sloughed biomass in suspension from settlingto the RBC tank. The sloughed-olf solids flow from stage to stage and finally into the clarifier following the RBC units. Intermediate clarification and sludge recycle are not necessary far the RBC process. ‘Tn comparison with other biological treatment process, the RBC process differs frum the trickling filter process by having substantially longer retention time and dynamic rather than stationary media; and from the activated-sludge process by having attached (fixed) biomass rather than a suspended culture and sludge recycle, ‘The patented Surfact process was created and developed by the Philadelphia Wastewater Department (Nelson and Guarino, 1977). The process uses air-driven RBCs that are partially submerged in the acr- ation basins of an activated-sludge system. The RBCs provide Bxed- film media for biological growth that are present in the recycled activated sludge in the aeration tanks. The results are more active bio- ‘logical coating on the fixed-film media than that which is found on such ‘media when used as.a separate secondary treatment. Surfact combines the advantages of bath RBC (fixed-film growth) and activated-sludge systems in a single tank, producing additional biological solids in the system. The results can be either a higher treatment efficiency at the same flow rate or the same level of treatment at a higher low rate.