Abstract:
The perfonnance of the upflow gravel filter, as an auxiliary unit, in removing
biological suspended solids (activated sludge) from secondary wastewater effluent to
conform with the Effluent Standards, when the secondary clarifier fails, was studied using
a test apparatus consisting of six filter beds, each of 25 centimeters X 25 centimeters
filtering area. Seven sets of experiments were conducted. Experimental sets 1 to 4 were
taken to identify a successful design of filter bed and associated hydraulic loading or
filtering rateS. Experimental sets 5 to 7 were carried out using the selected filter bed and
operating parameters to confirm the test results and to determine the average removal
efficiencies.
In the filter selection experiments, four parameters affecting the filter
performance were varied, namely, (1) the incoming concentration of suspended solids
(between 100 to 300 milligrams per liter) corresponding to the observed concentrations in
the failed secondary clarifiers' effluent of activated sludge wastewater treatment plants;
(2) the hydraulic loading rate or the filter rate (between 20 to 40 cubic meters per square
meter per day); (3) the thickness of filter bed (between 10 to 40 centimeters); and (4) the
size of gravel (between 5 to 20 millimeters). The anticipated duration of continuous
operation of filter beds was set at 20 days and the head loss through the filter bed was not
to exceed 42 centimeters. The suspended solid removal efficiency of each of the test filter
beds, expressed as percent removal, was evaluated by comparing the concentration in the
incoming flow with that in the filter's effluent. A filter design was accepted if it could
produce and effluent with suspended solid concentration less than 30 milligrams per liter.
It was shown from the results of the filter selection experiments (sets 1 to 4)
that Filter A (filter bed of 5 millimeters gravel and 30 centimeters thick) could filter
wastewater effluent with suspended solid concentration not more than 300 milligrams per
liter to produce a filtrate with suspended solid concentration below 30 milligrams per liter
(25 milligrams per liter on the average) and gave the highest filtering rate among the other
designs of filter beds tested, and hence was recommended. The repeatability of the
performance of Filter A was confirmed by the results of experimental sets 5 to 7, from
which the average of the suspended solid removal efficiencies of the filter were estimated,
being between 73 to 91 percent with 25 milligrams per liter suspended solid concentration
in the filtrate on the average. It was found that the selected filter could partially reduce
BOD in the wastewater by approximately 45 percent.
The selected filter was generally found to have no serious operational
problems. However, some precautions should be exercised when using the filter as regard
to washing and cleaning of gravel, prevention of dislodged sludge from the top of the
gravel bed to be carried away with the effluent, and the growth of red worms in the water
over the gravel bed. Preventive measures were suggested in the recommended operating
procedures, the maintenance of minimum depth of water over the gravel bed, and the
inclusion of special design features for the effluent outlets from the tank.