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Application of Rotating Biological Contactor Techn
Application of Rotating Biological Contactor Techn
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Abstract
Rotating biological contactor (RBC) technology is commonly used for municipal and industrial
effluent treatment. RBCs have also been successfully used in the mining industry for the removal
of contaminants such as ferrous iron (Fe2+) (Nokolov et al. 2001; Olem and Unz, 1977,1980),
cyanide and its various species (Whitlock, 1995), oxalate (Brassinga et. al. 1992; Beaudette et al.
1993), and selenium (McCready et al. 1990) from mining effluents. This paper presents the results
of two on-going research projects being carried out at the Mining and Mineral Sciences
Laboratory of Natural Resources Canada: The removal of thiocyanate (CNS) and ammonium
(NH4-N) from simulated gold mill effluents and its associated rainbow trout acute toxicity, and the
oxidation of ferrous (Fe2+) to ferric (Fe3+) ion for potential applications in bioleaching operations
and acid mine drainage treatment. A four stage RBC was able to effectively degrade CNS in a
simulated effluent having a concentration of approximately 200 mg/L at a temperature of 8oC. The
resulting NH4-N was ultimately oxidized to NO3-N. A maximum CNS degradation rate of 8.9 g
CNS/m2/day was observed in Stage 1 of the RBC. The maximum NH4-N removal rate of 1.7 g
NH4-N/m2 was observed in the last stage of the RBC. The RBC was capable of removing the
rainbow trout acute CNS lethality of the feed solution. The study using a three stage RBC
effectively oxidized Fe2+ to Fe3+ at temperature of 8oC. The Fe2+ oxidation rates ranging from 63
to 146 g Fe2+/m2/day were observed under various operating conditions of flow rate, temperature
and feed Fe2+ concentration.
INTRODUCTION
Rotating biological contactors (RBC) are The rotation of the RBC disks can be achieved
attached growth biological reactors containing a by a motor and drive system on each shaft or by
series of closely spaced circular disks made of an air drive system with a coarse bubble diffuser
plastic media mounted on horizontal shafts. at the bottom of the tank supplying air that is
Microorganisms can grow on the rotating disks caught by the air cups attached to the disks. The
that are partially (40%) submerged in media is made of high-density polyethylene
wastewater, and rotated at one to three containing UV inhibitors such as carbon black.
revolutions per minute to alternately expose the Individual RBC units are placed in series to
microorganisms to the wastewater and air. maximize the treatment efficiency. Baffles are
Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram of the placed to separate the shafts into a series of
RBC. The microorganisms adhere and grow on completely mixed bioreactors; each one is
the rotating disks, forming biofilms that degrade referred to as a stage. The baffles used to
organic matter and nitrogen compounds present separate the shafts are moveable to allow the
in the wastewater. RBCs have been commonly number of stages and their sizes to be adjusted in
used for the treatment of municipal wastewater response to variations in process loading. The
(US EPA, 1984). RBC technology has also been rotation of the disks imparts a shear force to the
successfully used in Canada for the removal of biofilm, keeping its thickness relatively constant
organics and oxidation of ammonia to nitrate by removing the cells generated by consumption
(nitrification) from municipal wastewater. of the substrates. Rotation of the disks also
serves to provide oxygen required for the growth
of biomass and substrate degradation. A settling
tank is normally required to remove the biomass (Brassinga et. al., 1992; Beaudette et al., 1993),
from the effluent. A cover made of fiberglass is and selenium (McCready et al., 1990) from
generally provided over RBC units to provide mining effluents.
protection against inclement weather, freezing,
and sunlight. Covers also reduce the heat loss, This paper presents the results of the two on-
allow the off-gas to be collected for odor control going projects being carried out at the Mining
and minimize algae growth. The advantages of and Mineral Sciences Laboratory of Natural
the RBC’s are lower energy requirements, ease Resources Canada on the application of the RBC
of operation, little maintenance and minimal technology in the mining industry for:
operator attention. Additionally, they are 1. The treatment of gold mill effluents;
resistant to toxic shock loads due to large specifically for the removal of CNS and
inventory of microorganisms on the media NH4-N, and its associated rainbow trout
(Iggleden, 1981). RBCs have been successfully toxicity; and
used in the mining industry for the removal of 2. The oxidation of ferrous (Fe2+) to ferric
contaminants such as ferrous iron (Fe2+) (Fe3+) ion in leach solutions for
(Nokolov et al., 2001; Olem and Unz, bioleaching operations and for the
1977,1980; Nakamura et al., 1986), cyanide and treatment of acid mine drainage.
its various species (Whitlock, 1995), oxalate
Bacterial leaching has been used for the rates could be enhanced by oxidizing Fe2+ to
extraction of both copper and uranium from Fe3+ externally to the leach pile using a
ores. Uranium extraction is accomplished by the bioreactor containing an active population of
bacterial oxidation of sulfide minerals such as iron oxidizing bacteria such as Thiobacillus
pyrite to produce ferric sulfate that oxidizes and ferrooxidans. This paper reports on the use of an
solubilizes the uranium. During bacterial RBC for the oxidation of Fe2+. Figure 4 presents
leaching of copper ores both oxidation of the a conceptual process schematic of bioleaching
copper sulfide minerals and oxidation by ferric operations using RBC as a ferric ion generator.
iron are involved in the copper extraction. The
oxidation of metal sulfides by ferric ions can be Fe2+ present in acid mine drainage could also be
represented by the following equation: oxidized to Fe3+ using a RBC. Fe2+ oxidization
to Fe3+ will allow precipitation of iron under
MS + 2Fe3+ ⇒ M2+ + 2Fe2+ + So acidic conditions, the use of inexpensive
neutralization agents, such as limestone for acid
In some copper leaching systems such as the mine drainage treatment and may also present
thin layer leaching, oxygen is the limiting factor opportunities to selectively remove and recover
and the production of additional oxidizing power metals.
increases the rate of copper leaching. Leaching
A three-stage RBC with total hydraulic capacity mg/L ranged from 16 to 22oC compared to the
of 7.8 L was used to study the biological experiments conducted at 3000 mg/L with
oxidation of Fe2+ under low pH conditions ( pH temperature ranging from 20 to 25oC. The D.O.
≈ 2.0). Each stage of the RBC consisted of 24 in the RBCs averaged about 1.7 mg/L in Stage1
discs of 0.22 m diameter. The total disc surface and averaged approximately 3.1 mg/L in Stage
area in the RBC was 5.2 m2. The feed water was 3. Table 2 shows the Fe2+ oxidization rates
prepared using the City of Ottawa tap water and observed during the above experiments. The
FeSO4.7H2O was used as Fe2+ source. Nutrients Fe2+ oxidation rates observed in this study
such as nitrogen and phosphorus were added to compares favorably with the rate of
the feed water for bacterial growth by addition approximately 91 g/m2/day observed by
of ammonium sulfate (0.08 g/L) and phosphoric Goldblatt et al. (1977).
acid (0.036 mL/L of feed respectively). Sulfuric
acid was added to maintain the feed pH at 2.0. CONCLUSIONS
The low temperature (8oC) studies were
conducted in a temperature-controlled room. RBC Application for thiocyanate and
The RBC was inoculated using the bacterial ammonium removal
consortium present in the acid mine drainage
collected from a closed mine site in Ontario. 1. An RBC operating at a hydraulic
loading rate of 0.02 m3/m2 disk area/day
Figure 5 shows the Fe2+ concentration in the (approximate hydraulic retention time of
three stages of the RBC at various operating 3.0 h) and a feed CNS concentration of
conditions. Figure 5A shows the efficiency of approximately 200 mg/L was effectively
Fe2+ oxidation for the RBC operating at HLR of able to degrade CNS to NH4-N. The
0.027 m3/m2/day (HRT ≈ 1.3 h) at average NH4-N produced was oxidized to NO2-
temperatures of approximately 23oC and 8oC. N. The NO2-N was ultimately oxidized
The Fe2+ oxidation efficiency of the RBC to NO3-N.
decreased from 95% to 73% as a result of 2. The RBC was effective in removing the
temperature reduction to 8 oC. Olem and Unz CNS and its associated acute rainbow
(1980) observed that at a temperature of ≈ 0.4oC, trout toxicity of a synthetic solution. The
the RBC Fe2+ oxidization efficiency was reduced RBC influent exhibited an LC50 of 160
by 10 to 20% compared to 10oC for acid mine mg/L for CNS and the RBC effluent
drainage containing Fe2+ < 400 mg/L. Figure 5B samples exhibited 100% survival of the
shows the impact of the increase in HLR from rainbow trout for the 96 h testing period.
0.027 m3/m2/day (HRT = 1.3) to 0.054
m3/m2/day (HRT = 0.65 h) on the Fe2+ oxidation RBC application for Fe2+ ion oxidation
in the RBC receiving approximately 3100 mg /L
Fe2+ in the feed. The increase in HLR reduced 1. A three stage RBC operating at a
the Fe2+ oxidation efficiency of the RBC from hydraulic loading rate of 0.027 to 0.054
95% to 84%. The reduced efficiency is likely m3/m2/day, a temperature of 8 to 25oC
due to a reduced contact time between the disk and a feed Fe2+ concentration of 3000 to
and the liquid in the reactor. Figure 5C shows 6000 mg/L achieved Fe2+ oxidization
the impact of an increase in the feed Fe2+ rates ranging 63 g Fe2+/m2/day to 146 g
concentration from 3000 mg/L to 6000 mg/L on Fe2+/m2/day.
the Fe2+ oxidization. It should be noted that the
temperature during the experiments at 6000
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Olem, H. and Unz, R. F. (1977). Acid
mine drainage treatment with rotating
The authors would like to thank Eric biological contactor. Biotechnology and
Nicholson, a co-op student in the Metals in Bioengineering, vol. XIX, pp.1475-
the Environment Program at MMSL for his 1491.
help in conducting the rainbow trout tests. • Olem, H., and Unz, R. F. (1980).
The authors would also like to thank Manuel Rotating-disc biological treatment of
Smeu, a Carleton University student for his acid mine drainage. Journal of Water
help in the experiments during his work Pollution Control Federation, 52(2),
term in the Mine Effluents Program. The 257-269.
authors would also like to thank Dr. David • McCready, R. G. L., Salley, J., and
Koren, Mine Effluents Program, MMSL for Gould, W. D. (1990). Biorecovery of
his support during this project and reviewing selenium from smelter effluents.
the manuscript. The authors would also like Proceedings of the Pacific Rim
to thank Patricio Riveros of MMSL for Congress 90. Gold Coast, Queensland,
reviewing this manuscript. Australia, pp. 623 – 626.
• Nakamura, K., Noike, T., and
REFERENCES Matsumoto, J. (1986). Effect of
• Beaudette, L., Gould, W. D., K., operation conditions on biological Fe2+
Yamazaki, H., and McCready, R. G. L. oxidation with rotating biological
(1993). Development of an industrial contactors. Water Research, Vol. 20,
process for oxalate biodegradation. No. 1, 73-77.
Proceedings of 9th Annual General • Nikolov, L., Karamanev, D., Dakov, L.,
Meeting of BIOMINET, eds. W. D. and Popova, V. (2001). Oxidation of
Gould, D. W. Koren, and S. Lord, ferrous iron by Thiobacillus
CANMET Special Publication SP93-1, ferrooxidans in a full-scale rotating
pp. 21 - 45. biological contactor. Environmental
• Brassinga, R. D., Fulford, G. D., Progress, 20, 4, 247-250.
McCready, R. G. L., Gould, W. D., and • Whitlock, J. L. (1990). Biological
Beaudette, L., (1992). Biodegradation of detoxification of precious metal
oxalate ions in aqueous solution. processing wastewaters.
Australian Patent # 626,571. Geomicrobiology Journal, 8, 241 – 249.
• Goldblatt, E. L., Tunley, T. H., and • Whitlock, J. L. (1995). Bioremediation
Nagy, I. F. (1977). Pilot-plant bacterial of mine process wastewaters. Biominet
film oxidation (Bacfox Process) of – Eleventh Annual Meeting
recycled acidified uranium plant ferrous Proceedings, eds. L. Lortie, W. D.
sulphate leach solution. In: Proceedings Gould and S. Rajan, Natural Resource
of the Conference on Bacterial Canada, Ottawa, pp. 23 - 29.
Leaching, Edited by W. Schwartz, GBF • US EPA. (1984). Design information on
Monograph Series No. 4, Verlag rotating biological contactors,
Chemie, Weinheim, 1977, pp. 1175-190. EPA/600/2-84/106.
Grady C. P. L. Jr., Daigger, G. T., and • US EPA. (1993). Nitrogen Control,
Lim, H. C. (1999). Biological EPA/625/R-93/010.
wastewater treatment. Marcel Dekker
Inc., New York.
• Iggleden, G. J. (1981). Rotating
biological contactors. Chemistry and
Industry, 13, 4 July, 458-465.
Figure 1: RBC process schematic (Grady et al., 1999).
Figure 2: The RBC experimental set up for the CNS/NH4-N removal project.
250 50
NH4-N (mg/L)
Concentration (mg/L)
150 30
100 20
50 10
0 0
Influent Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 - Eff. Influent Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 - Eff.
50 9.5
NO3-N (mg/L)
40 NO2-N (mg/L) 9.0
Concentration (mg/L)
30 8.5
pH
20 8.0
10 7.5
0 7.0
Influent Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 - Eff. Influent Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 - Eff.
5.0
500
4.5 D. O. (mg/L)
Concentration (mg/L)
Concentration (mg/L)
4.0
400
3.5
300
3.0
2.0
Influent Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 - Eff. Influent Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 - Eff.
Figure 3: The treatment efficiency of the RBC in the removal of CNS and its degradation
products (Hydraulic loading rate ≈ 0.02 m3/m2/day, hydraulic retention time ≈ 3 h and
temperature ≈ 8oC).
Figure 4: The application of RBC as a ferric ion generator for a heap bioleaching process.
3500
Fe(2+) Concentration, mg/L
HLR = 0.027m3/m2/day
3000
Fe(2+), 23 oC
2500 Fe(2+), 8 oC
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Influent Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3- Eff.
Figure 5A
3500
Fe(2+) Concentration, mg/L
3000
Fe(2+), 20 to 25 oC, HLR = 0.027m3/m2/day
2500 Fe(2+), 16 to 22 oC, HLR = 0.054 m3/m2/day
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Influent Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3- Eff.
Figure 5B
7000
Fe(2+) Concentration, mg/L
3000
2000
1000
0
Influent Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3- Eff.
Figure 5C
Figure 5: The Fe2+ oxidization in the three RBC stages at various operating conditions.
Table 1: CNS removal, NH4-N generation/removal and NO3-N generation rates at RBC
operating conditions of: feed CNS ≈ 200 mg/L, hydraulic loading rate ≈ 0.02 m3/m2/day,
hydraulic retention time ≈ 3 h and temperature ≈ 8 oC.
Table 2: Fe2+ oxidization rates for the RBC at various experimental conditions.