Increasing the Removal Efficiency of Pollutants from Municipal Wastewater Using Biological Filters

Abstract

Biological filters are wastewater treatment systems that contain a granular filler, which forms a biologically active film that contributes to the bio-oxidation of impurities in wastewater. Recent research in this field has focused on improving conventional fixed aerobic film treatment plants by using cheap and readily available materials such as filterable fillers. Experiments have been carried out on volcanic tuff-filled biofilters with diameters ranging from 20-100 mm, supplied with municipal wastewater from primary sedimentation. The efficiency of biological filtration was determined during continuous operation of the experimental plant by physico-chemical analysis of the water. The indicators analyzed were those required by current legislation, namely: pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), etc. The wastewater samples analysed were average samples. Treatment efficiency was calculated under different assumptions, depending on: plant capacity, hydraulic load, organic load.