8th IWA Specialist Group Conference on Waste Stabilization Ponds - Belo Horizonte/MG , April 2009

Trickling filters: Alternative for Ammonia Removal from Stabilization Pond System

Effluent

Mônica Medeiros Frederico de Almeida Lage Filho

Humberto Carlos Ruggeri Roque Passos Piveli

Introduction Hundreds of active Stabilization Ponds in Brazil

However they don´t have nutrient removal capabilities and don´t meet discharge standards.

Atractive alternative is ponding system effluent application in agriculture: “fertirrigation”.

During wet weather periods effluent application into agricultural soils is troublesome need for post-treatment of ponding system effluent.

Intro (continued) One option for post-treatment of ponding system

effluents is the TRICKLING BIOFILTER (TBF): an attached biomass growth reactor in which biological NITRIFICATION can take place.

TBF´s present small footprint pH, temperature, BOD and ponding system

effluent OD conditions are favorable to nitrification.

Resulting reactor volume quite possibly smaller than other post-treatment options, thus TBF option can be economically feasible.

Research Work Objective

Evaluate effects of TKN and BOD application rates as well as other operational conditions on nitrification in tricking biofilters receiving photosynthetic facultative pond effluent.

Bigger picture:

Experimental results to subsidize assessment of the TBF alternative for improvement of ponding

system effluent quality.

Methodology

Ponding System at city of Lins, SP Estabilização de Lins/SP

At the Lins field Station – testing field for agricultural reuse of ponding system effluent

MethodologyTKN Volumetric Loading rates: 0,02 to 0,17 kg TKN/m3d Surface Hydraulic Loading rates: 2 to 12 m3/m2d

Tested TBF media: crushed rock no.4 & Pall brand plastic rings

Results TKN Volumetric and Hydraulic Loading Rates into TBF´s

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

0,000,02

0,040,06

0,08

0 100 200 300Tempo (d)

CV

(kg/

m3.

d)

Filtro Plástico Filtro Pedra

0,02,0

4,06,0

8,0

0 100 200 300Tempo (d)

TAH

(m3/

m2.

d)

Filtro Plástico Filtro Pedra

0,02,04,06,08,0

10,0

0 20 40 60 80Tempo (d)

TAH

(m3/

m2.

d)

Filtro P lástico Filtro P edra

0,0

5,0

10,0

15,0

0 10 20 30Tempo (d)

TAH

(m3/

m2.

d)

Filtro Plástico Filtro Pedra

0,000,020,040,060,080,100,12

0 20 40 60 80Tempo (d)

CV

(kg/

m3.

d)

Filtro P lástico Filtro P edra

0,000,05

0,100,15

0,20

0 10 20 30 40Tempo (d)

CV

(kg/

m3.

d)

Filtro Plástico Filtro Pedra

Comparison of phases 1 through 3 CONTROL:

pH & Temperature

Comparison of phases 1 through 3

OD (mg/L) & Alkalinity (mg CaCO3/L)

Comparison of phases 1 through 3 ORGANIC MATTER

BOD & COD (mg/L)

Comparison of phases 1 through 3 N species:

Ammonia N (mg/L)

TKN (mg/L):

Comparison of phases 1 through 3 N species:

Nitrite (mg/L)

Nitrate (mg/L):

Conclusions

Both Trickling Biofilter media (crushed rock no. 4 & Pall plastic rings) achieved reduction of ammonia N

concentrations from the facultative pond effluent;

Nitrification occurred in all three experimental phases, indicated by high concentrations of nitrite and nitrate;

Regarding nitrification along phases 1 thru´ 3: Crushed rock TBF progress was faster and related

ammonia N removal efficiency was higher than for the Pall ring TBF.