Measurement and modelling of process impacts of substrates and filter media to the operation of wastewater treatment plants with fixed biomass
- Authors: Darko DREV, Jože PANJAN
- Citation: Acta hydrotechnica, vol. 24, no. 40, pp. 65-81, 2006.
- Abstract: Substrates and filter media are built in wastewater treatment plants in various ways, and can have a high impact on their operation effect. As such, they can either only intensify the treatment processes, or they can act as a main treatment carrier. The specific treatment effects, which can be achieved by substrates or filter media application, were until now rarely exploited in the wastewater treatment plants design. The usual reason for this was insufficient knowledge about these materials as well as the high costs of membrane filtration technology. Especially interesting are those technological solutions that use the biological treatment processes in a combination with various substrates and filter media. This can be also seen from the research results provided in this paper. The relatively easy removal of phosphorus and heavy metals from the wastewater, via suitable substrates, can, for example, take place in the percolators and constructed wetlands. It was found that some substrate types provide much more suitable conditions for the development of bacterial communities than others. If the membrane filter is included into the treatment process, then the treatment efficiency of the wastewater treatment plant can be significantly improved, although its size remains the same. Using these techniques, relatively easy removal of viruses, bacteria, and some heavy metals can also be achieved.
- Keywords: measurement of biomass, modelling, wastewater treatment plant, substrate, CO2, fixed biomass, microbial mass activity, constructed wetlands
- Full text: a40dd.pdf