Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering

Fixed Film
General Information

Fixed film reactors are used to treat organic hazardous, non-hazardous, and toxic
wastes. Hazardous materials in untreated water can be degraded to less dangerous com-
pounds using biological agents such as microorganisms or their products.

Because the microorganisms ("bugs") multiply every fifteen minutes or so, they must be
supplied with large amounts of nutrients and oxygen. The hazardous materials serve as
nutrients for the microorganisms.
(Copyright Aqua Tech Systems, Fayetteville, AR)

Equipment Design

The schematic below is a diagram of a typical fixed film reactor. Untreated water enters
the tank from the inlet port. The water then flows through three different compart-
ments, each one containing numerous bugs that consume hazardous material. An air dif-
fuser network provides the air the bugs require for growth.

(Copyright Brentwood Industries, Inc., Reading, PA)

When the water enters the third compartment it passes through a clarifier that separates
any bugs from the treated water. The bugs are then recycled back to the first compart-
ment, and the treated water exits the reactor.

Shown below is a diagram of a fixed film biological reactor with the walls cutout to show
the media inside. The larger of the two tanks is known as a Submerged Aerated Filter
(SAF) which contains fully submerged media in the presence of co-current aeration. The
tank that follows the SAF is a clarifier, described above.
(Copyright Process Wastewater Technologies LLC, Baltimore, MD)

Usage Examples

Fixed film reactors see much use in water treatment. The fixed film reactor shown on the
left is mounted on a trailer so it can be transported from site to site with relative ease.
The reactor on the right can be used for biological phosphorus and nitrogen removal.
(Pictures copyright Process Wastewater Technologies LLC, Baltimore, MD)

Advantages

Disadvantages

• Allows for multiple varieties of reactions to occur in the same zone

• High levels of process stability

• High operational and construction costs

• High energy requirements

Acknowledgements
Aqua Tech Systems , Fayetteville, AR

Brentwood Industries, Inc. , Reading, PA

Process Wastewater Technologies LLC , Baltimore, MD

Developers
Sam Catalano
Kelsey Kaplan