Chemical Engineering Department

CHE 371

Lecture 8

Lec 1

Wastewater Treatment
“2024-2025”
• Instructor :Dr / Marwa Maher
Biological process design for
wastewater treatment
Biological treatment techniques

• There are 3 major Biological treatment techniques

1. Suspended Growth Systems
2. Attached Growth Systems
3. Combined (Hybrid) Systems
 1. Suspended Growth Systems
In suspended growth systems, microorganisms (such as bacteria and protozoa) responsible for breaking down
organic pollutants are suspended and mixed within the wastewater. These microbes consume organic matter as
their food source, converting it into simpler, less harmful substances like carbon dioxide and biomass.
Common Processes and Applications:
• Activated Sludge Process (ASP):
This is one of the most widely used methods in municipal wastewater treatment. Wastewater is mixed with
activated sludge in an aeration tank, where oxygen is supplied to support microbial activity. After treatment, the
biomass is separated from the treated water in a secondary clarifier, and some of it is recycled back into the
aeration tank.
• Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR):
A time-based batch process that treats wastewater in a single reactor through a series of steps (fill, aerate, settle,
and decant). It allows for high process control and can handle varying loads effectively.
Advantages:
• High treatment efficiency for BOD, COD, and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds).
• Flexible operation and design.
• Precise control over operating conditions (oxygen levels, retention time, microbial growth).
Challenges:
• High energy demand for aeration.
• Requires settling tanks for biomass separation.
• Produces excess sludge that needs handling and disposal.
2. Attached Growth Systems
In attached growth systems, microorganisms grow as biofilms on the surface of solid media. Wastewater flows over or
around this media, allowing the biofilm to degrade pollutants. The media can be stationary or moving, and the microbes
remain fixed while the water passes through.
Common Processes and Applications:
• Trickling Filters:
Wastewater is distributed over a bed of rocks or plastic media, and as it trickles down, biofilms on the media break down
the organic content.
• Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC):
Large discs rotate partially submerged in wastewater. As they rotate, biofilms on the discs are alternately exposed to air
and wastewater, promoting aerobic degradation.
• Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR):
Use free-floating plastic carriers inside an aeration tank. The carriers provide surface area for biofilm growth while moving
freely in the tank with the help of aeration.
Advantages:
• Lower energy consumption compared to suspended systems.
• More resilient to toxic or shock loads.
• Reduced sludge production.
Challenges:
• Biofilm overgrowth may lead to clogging or loss of efficiency.
• Distribution of flow and oxygen must be well-managed.
• Performance may be affected by temperature changes.
3. Combined (Hybrid) Systems
Combined systems integrate both suspended and attached growth processes within the same
treatment unit to capitalize on the advantages of each. These systems are designed to enhance
overall performance, increase treatment capacity, and improve stability under fluctuating loads.
Common Processes and Applications:
• Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge (IFAS):
Adds fixed media to conventional activated sludge systems. Microorganisms grow both as
suspended flocs and as biofilms on the media, increasing the total biomass and treatment efficiency.
• Hybrid MBBR Systems:
Combine moving biofilm carriers with suspended biomass, often used to upgrade existing treatment
facilities without increasing tank volume.
Advantages:
• High treatment efficiency with a smaller footprint.
• Better shock load resistance and nutrient removal.
• Useful for upgrading existing plants without major infrastructure changes.
Challenges:
• More complex design and operation.
• Requires monitoring of both suspended and attached biomass.
• Balancing oxygen supply and mixing for both systems can be tricky.
Trickling Filter

• Trickling filter is an attached-growth aerobic type of process in which

microorganisms attached to a medium are used for removing organic matter
from wastewater.
• These reactors are also called as non-submerged fixed film biological reactors.
• These are also called percolating filters or sprinkling filters
• A trickling filter, is a tank of media such as gravel, Stone Ballast or plastic
material.
• Wastewater is distributed over the top of the media and flows downward
across the media surface in a thin film.
• It then exits the bottom of the tank and flows into
Tricking Filter- Filter media (Packing)
• Trickling filter uses packing medium composed of crushed stone, slag,
rock or plastic over which wastewater is distributed continuously
• The ideal medium should have the following properties:
high specific surface area, high void space, light weight,
biological inertness, chemical resistance, mechanical durability,
and low cost.
• Should be washed before placing
Rotating Arms
• Rotate around central support by force of reaction
on sprays/electric motor
• Rate of revolution 2 RPM(Round per min) for small distributors
• 1/2 RPM for large distributors
• More than 2 arms
• Advantages for the rotation action
• Helps in reduction of shock loads
• 2 arms only working during low flow
• Rotary arms are kept 15-20 cm above the top
filtering surface

Dosing of sewage
• Rotary arms dose continues
• Spray nozzles are present in which the sewage is
dosed for 3-5 min and then rest for 5-10min
• Dosing tank for filter with distributors designed for
• 1-3 min detention time for smaller capacity
• 5-10 min detention time for higher capacity
Trickling Filter-Working
• The wastewater in trickling filter is distributed over the top area of a vessel
containing non-submerged packing material.
• Air circulation in the void space, is either natural draft or blowers, provides
oxygen for the microorganisms growing as an attached biofilm.
• During operation, the organic material present in the wastewater is
metabolised by the biomass attached to the medium.
• The biological slime grows in thickness as the organic matter abstracted from
the flowing wastewater is synthesized into new cellular material.
• The thickness of the aerobic layer is limited by the depth
Trickling Filter-Working
• The micro-organisms near the medium face loose their ability to cling to the media surface due to the
increase in thickness.
• The liquid then washes the slime off the medium and a new slime layer starts to grow.
• This phenomenon of losing the slime layer is called sloughing.
• The sloughed off film and treated wastewater are collected by an under drainage which also allows
circulation of air through filter.
• The collected liquid is passed to a settling tank used for solid- liquid separation.
• Some water is recycled to the filter, to maintain moist conditions
Velz equation :
is used to model the biological treatment of wastewater in a trickling filter system, and it involves two stages for the
treatment process. It incorporates various factors such as the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), recirculated flow, filter
dimensions, and temperature, among others.
Here is a breakdown and explanation of the equation:
Explanation of Key Terms:
• Effluent BOD (Sel_Se2): This is the concentration of biodegradable organic matter (measured as BOD)
remaining in the treated water after passing through each stage of the filter.

• Influent BOD (Si​): The initial concentration of BOD in the incoming wastewater before treatment.

• Recirculated Flow Ratio (r1, r2): This represents the fraction of the treated effluent that is recirculated
back into the filter, which can help improve treatment efficiency by increasing microbial exposure to the
wastewater.

• Filter Depth (D) and Area (A): These dimensions determine the surface area available for microbial
growth (biofilm) and the depth of the wastewater in the filter, affecting the contact time.

• Wastewater Flow Rate (Q): The volume of wastewater flowing through the filter per unit of time.

• Temperature (T): The temperature of the wastewater affects the microbial activity, which is accounted
for by the factor 1.035 T−20.
Problem: A wastewater treatment plant is experiencing high levels of organic pollutants in the influent. To improve the
treatment process, the company decided to install a Trickling Filter system to help remove organic pollutants. The influent
water entering the system has a Biochemical Oxygen Demand concentration of 350 mg/L. The task is to calculate the
expected performance of the system in removing organic matter as the water passes through the trickling filter, using the
Velz equation.
Given Data:
•Influent BOD concentration = 350 mg/L
•Wastewater flow rate = 0.8 m³/min
•Filter depth = 4 m
•Filter surface area = 120 m²
•Temperature of the wastewater = 20°C
•Recirculated flow ratio = 0.4 (40% of treated water is recirculated into the system)
•Empirical constants:
• k=0.02, n=0.5n =

Solution : Based on the calculations, the BOD concentration in the effluent after passing through the trickling filter is
approximately 305.6 mg/L. This indicates that the system is only able to reduce the BOD by a small amount (from 350
mg/L to 305.6 mg/L), suggesting that either the filter may need to be improved or additional treatment processes may be
required to achieve a greater reduction in BOD.
NRC Equations (National Research Council Equations)
The NRC equations are empirical design equations used to estimate the BOD removal efficiency in trickling filters. They
are commonly applied for both single-stage and two-stage systems.
Problem :You are tasked with designing a single-stage trickling filter for treating municipal wastewater. The influent BOD
concentration is 300 mg/L, and the wastewater flow rate is 1000 m³/day. The first-stage filter has a volume of 1500 m³,
and the recirculation flow ratio (r1) is 0.3.
Calculate the effluent BOD from the filter using the NRC equation for a single-stage system.

Solution

Answer: The effluent BOD (Sel) from the first-stage trickling

filter is approximately 261.6 mg/L.
Problem: A municipal wastewater treatment plant is using a two-stage trickling filter system to treat wastewater. The
influent BOD concentration is 150 mg/L, and the flow rate is 800 m³/day. In the first stage, the recirculation flow ratio (r1) is
set at 0.6, and the filter volume is 1200 m³. After the first stage, the effluent BOD concentration is measured to be 70 mg/L.
In the second stage, the recirculation flow ratio (r2) is increased to 0.8, and the filter volume is 1400 m³. Calculate the final
effluent BOD concentration after the second stage.
Additionally, discuss how increasing the recirculation ratio influences the BOD removal efficiency in the system.

Solution

The final effluent BOD concentration after the

second stage is approximately 51.17 mg/L.

Increasing the recirculation ratio (r) improves BOD

removal efficiency by:
•Increasing contact between microbes and pollutants,
improving degradation.
•Diluting toxic or high-strength influent with treated water,
reducing shock loading.
•Providing more stable and uniform loading to the filter.
 Problem: You are designing a trickling filter for a small industrial plant with a wastewater flow rate of 500 m³/day. The influent
BOD is 250 mg/L, and the desired effluent BOD after treatment should be less than 50 mg/L. The filter volume is 1000 m³, and
the recirculation ratio is unknown.
Using the NRC equations for a single-stage system, determine the required recirculation factor (F1) to achieve the desired
effluent BOD. How would the recirculation ratio affect the performance of the system?

Solution

F1=​≈565.2​
For a single-stage system, the recirculation factor typically
should not exceed 10-20 for efficient operations. If the required
In this case, such a high F₁ indicates a very large recirculation factor is higher than this, it suggests the filter
recirculation ratioSo, the target effluent BOD (50 mg/L) needs to be larger, or the target effluent BOD is too stringent
with a single-stage filter is difficult to achieve without for just one stage. Using a two-stage system
either:
•Increasing the filter volume (to provide more surface area Recirculation Ratio (r):
and treatment capacity), or Typically, the recirculation ratio (r) ranges from 0.25 to 0.5 in
•Using a two-stage system (which can better handle BOD standard systems.
removal in two steps). If the load is high, it can go up to r = 1 or 2 at most, but this
requires a special design.
Advantages of Trickling Filters:
•High Rate of Filter Loading:
Trickling filters can handle a high rate of filter loading, which means they require less land area and
smaller quantities of filter media compared to other treatment systems.
•Sufficient Stabilization of Effluent:
The effluent produced by trickling filters is generally well stabilized, meaning that the organic matter
has been significantly reduced, making the treated water safer for discharge.
•Simple Operation:
Trickling filters are relatively simple to operate and do not require skilled supervision, making them
cost-effective in terms of labor.
•Flexible in Operation:
Trickling filters can be adjusted to accommodate varying flow rates and loadings, offering flexibility in
their operation.
•Self-Cleaning:
The biological film (biofilm) on the filter media tends to be self-cleaning to some extent, reducing the
need for frequent maintenance.
•Low Mechanical Wear and Tear:
These filters typically contain fewer mechanical components, leading to less wear and tear and
potentially lower maintenance costs compared to more complex treatment systems.
Disadvantages of Trickling Filters:

1.High Bed Loss:

There can be significant loss of biomass through trickling filters, which means the biofilm
may wash off the media, potentially affecting the efficiency of the system. )Sloughing(
2.High Construction Cost:
While trickling filters save space, the initial construction cost for the filter beds, materials,
and setup can be relatively high.
3.Cannot Treat Raw Sewage Directly:
Trickling filters cannot effectively treat raw sewage and typically require primary
sedimentation (pre-treatment) before the wastewater enters the filter.
4.Fly and Odor Nuisance:
Flies and odor issues can arise in trickling filter systems, especially if the effluent contains
organic materials or if maintenance is inadequate, leading to unpleasant conditions in the
surrounding areas.
Any Questions