Design of Trickling Filter Nitrification Towers

• Published in: Journal - Water Pollution Control Federation 1986-01, Vol.58 (1), p.60-67
• Main Authors: Gullicks, H. A., Cleasby, J. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General purification processes; Hydraulics; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Liquids; Loading rate; Nitrification; Nitrogen; Oxygen; Pollution; Process Design; Reactants; Surface areas; Wastewater; Wastewaters; Water pollution; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0043-1303; 2327-7467

New empirical trickling filter nitrification tower design curves were developed from pilot-scale study data and show good agreement with recent fixed-film theoretical concepts and models. The selection of plastic media surface area, bulk volume, and bed depth is based on ammonium (${\rm NH}_{4}{}^{+}$-N) loading criteria (applied hydraulic loading rate and applied ${\rm NH}_{4}{}^{+}$-N concentration including recirculation) and wastewater temperature. The new design curves are superior to those in the EPA Process Design Manual for Nitrogen Control because the EPA curves are based on effluent quality regardless of loading. Considerable data scatter is evident in the EPA curves, which indicates that effluent quality alone does not satisfactorily predict plastic media surface area required for nitrification towers. Furthermore, the new design curves can be applied to recirculation situations, whereas the EPA curves cannot.