Dr.

Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

Environmental Engineering Processes

Lecture 13

Attached Growth Systems-Trickling

Filter
Dr. Clint Sutherland

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Recall Activated Sludge System
Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

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Trickling Filter Trickling Filter System

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7XaUbDqZ6k
Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago
UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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PMCIS San Fernando Campus

Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago
UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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PMCIS San Fernando Campus

Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago
UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
UTT

PMCIS San Fernando Campus

Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago
UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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PMCIS San Fernando Campus

Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago
UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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PMCIS San Fernando Campus

Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago
UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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PMCIS San Fernando Campus

Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago
UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
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PMCIS San Fernando Campus

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COMPOSITION OF WW
RECALL
solids
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99.9 % Water
0.1% Solids

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Solids are divided into
Organic and inorganic
Organic Inorganic
(70%) (30%)

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Suspended Suspended Dissolved
Dissolved
Organics Inorganics Inorganics
Organics
(Colloidal – (Grit) (metals,
(Carbohydrates)
protein) salts,P,N)

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Tertiary
Secondary Treatment Primary Treatment Treatment
Dissolved Organics and 60% SS; 30% BOD
Suspended Organics and Grit
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Growth and Food Utilization
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Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

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Growth Pattern of Microorganisms
The microbes present in wastewater treatment are mixed cultures of bacteria,
protozoa, fungi, rotifers and sometimes nematodes. The principal bacteria is
heterotrophy which uses organic materials as a carbon source.

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• When a small number of viable bacterial cells are placed in a close vessel
containing excessive food supply in a suitable environment, conditions are
established in which unrestricted growth takes place.

• However, growth of an organism do not go on indefinitely, and after a

characteristic size is reached, the cell divides due to hereditary and internal
limitations.

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Growth and food utilization may follow a pattern similar to that as shown in
figure below:
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Growth and Food
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Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

Utilization

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Lag Phase: is a period of
adaptation of the
microorganisms to their new
environment and food- null
growth rate.

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Log-Growth Phase: Once the
microorganism becomes
accustom the growth phase
Stationary phase: Maximum growth cannot occur
begins and proceeds
indefinitely. Food becomes limiting, overcrowding,
exponentially. Biological cells
waste products build up. Due to limiting food,
grow and reproduce.
cells begin endogenous catabolism while other
Regeneration can occur in as
cells die. Eventually rate of growth = rate of
little as 20 minutes.

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death

Endogenous phase: Endogenous catabolism

continues but death of cells dominate and
biomass slowly decreases.
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Reactors
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Types of
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Biological
treatment

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Systems

Continuous-flow
Batch reactors
Reactors

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Suspended Attached
Growth Growth

Plug Flow with Completely

Completely sludge recycle
Ponds and Mixed with
Mixed without Trickling Filter
Lagoons (Activated Sludge Recycle
Sludge Recycle
Sludge System) (Activated

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Sludge System)
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Attached Culture Systems
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Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

What is an Attached Growth/Culture System

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This system employs reactors in which wastewater is contacted with microbial
films attached to a surface.

Types of Popular Attached Culture Systems

• Trickling Filter – random packed solid media is used 1.8 – 2.5 m depth

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• Bio-towers – Similar to trickling filter and is approximately 7.0 m depth
• Rotating Biological Contractors (RBC)- Rotating disk partially submerged
in wastewater which moves the biofilm alternately through air and water.

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Trickling Filter
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Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

What is a Trickling Filter?

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• Trickling filter is an attached growth process i.e. process in which microorganisms
responsible for treatment are attached to an inert packing material.
• Sorption and subsequent biological oxidation are the primary means of food removal.

What type of media is used?

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• Packing material used in attached growth processes include rock, gravel, slag, sand,
redwood, and a wide range of plastic and other synthetic materials.
• Size of media range from 50 to 100 mm; specific surface area of 50 to 65 m2/m3;
porosity of 40% to 50%.

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Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago
UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Trickling Filter
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Attached Culture Systems – Bio-towers
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http://www.securitywsd.com/images/Large_Biotower.JPG

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http://www.brentwoodindustries.com/water/trickling_main.html
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http://www.edie.net/products/view_entry.asp?id=2055

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• The multiple rotating discs are immersed in tanks
of wastewater which is purified by the action of
naturally cultivated micro-organisms forming a film
on the surface of each disc. As the disc rotates, the
inactive film of micro-organisms slips off and a
new active film is regenerated in a naturally
continuing cycle, so that the system always

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maintains the level of activity necessary to treat the
http://darlingtonequipment.com/lyco.aspx volume of wastewater fed into the tanks.

Attached Culture Systems – Rotating Biological Contactor

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Attached Culture Systems

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Type of microorganisms involved (Zoogleal layer or Slimy Layer)

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- The same group of microorganisms found in activated sludge systems, i.e.
heterotrophic organisms (organic carbon compounds are used as carbon
sources) with facultative bacteria (capable of living under aerobic or
anaerobic conditions) being predominant.
- Also present are fungi, protozoa, algae (closer to sunlight).
- Nitrifying organisms are significant when carbon content is low.

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- Animals- rotifers, sludge worm, insect larvae, snails.

How does this system work?

-Organisms attach to the media and grow into a dense film of viscous jelly-like
matter.
-Wastewater passes over the film and dissolved organics penetrate the biofilm due
to concentration gradients.

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-Suspended solids and colloids may be retained on the “sticky” surface where they
become decomposed into soluble products.
-Oxygen is supplied from the wastewater as well as via voids in the media spaces
 UTT How does this system work? (Continued)
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-Waste products from metabolic processes

Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

diffuse outwards from the film and are carried

away with the wastewater or air currents

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-Growth on the biofilm occur outward and in
one direction.
-As growth continues, concentration gradient
of food and oxygen develops within the film.
Eventually both anaerobic and endogenous
metabolism occur at the biofilm-media surface

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interface.
-Consequently, attachment begins to weaken
and shearing action of the wastewater flowing
across the film causes the film to break off -
Sloughing.
-The biofilm is quickly reestablished.

Rate of food removal is affected by

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-WW Flow rate
-Organic Loading
-Temperature
-Diffusion of food and oxygen into the biofilm
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Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

Process Flow

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Diagram for
Single-Stage
Trickling
Filter

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Process Flow Diagram for Two-Stage Trickling Filter

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Design Criteria for Trickling Filter Systems

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 UTT Design using NRC formula.- this formula for trickling-filter performance is an
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empirical expression developed by the US National Research Council. It may be

Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

applied to single-stage and multistage rock filters with varying recirculation ratios.
The equation for a single-stage or first-stage rock filter is:

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P

Where ‘P’ is the percentage of BOD removed by primary settling assumed to be typically 35%
 UTT
Design of Trickling Filter Systems
UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

BELOW IS THE FORMULA USING US CUSTOMARY UNITS

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Example 13.1 – Trickling Filter Design
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Assume P = 35%

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Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago
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Design
Trickling Filter
Example 15.1 –

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 UTT
Design of Trickling Filter Systems
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Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

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PMCIS
Assignment: SOLVE Example using SI units
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Dr. Clint Sutherland – The University of Trinidad and Tobago

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Reference:
H. Peavy, D Rowe, G. Tchobanoglous . Environmental Engineering. McGraw-Hill
1988

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Lee C. (2007) HANDBOOK OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
CALCULATIONS

Wastewater Engineering –Metcalf and Eddy 2003

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