Effect of media heights on the performance of biological aerated filter

Article type: Research Article

Authors: HU, Yong-you | WANG, Li-li

Affiliations: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China | Department of Environmental Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: ppyyhu@scut.edu.cn

Abstract: The optimum media height of carbon oxidation and nitrification in a down-flow biological aerated filter was determined, and the distribution of the heterotrophic and nitrifying populations through studying the changes of organic carbon contents and ammonia concentration at different media height was got. The results showed that as a down flow BAF with granular media, the active layer of nitrifiers was deeper than heterotrophs in BAF. And the optimum media height for the removal of SS, COD_{Cr} and NH_4^+-N was 40 cm, 60 cm and 80 cm respectively. The removal efficiency of SS, COD_{Cr} and NH_4^+-N was 79.1%, 63.9% and 96.4% respectively under the influent COD_{Cr} and NH_4^+-N of 122.1 mgCOD_{Cr}/L and 14.84 mgNH_4^+-N/L, the influent flux of 15.8 L/h, air to liquid ratio of 3: 1.

Keywords: biological aerated filter, bed material height, sewage treatment

Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 281-284, 2005