Bio-tower Application for Wastewater Treatment
Klaus Doelle *
Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (PBE), College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), State University of New York (SUNY), One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
Yue Qin
Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (PBE), College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), State University of New York (SUNY), One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
Qian Wang
Department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (PBE), College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), State University of New York (SUNY), One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study tested the performance of a batch-type recirculating laboratory scale bio-tower for the treatment of municipal wastewater. Performance tests were done with a HACH DR-1900 spectrophotometer include chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus and nitrogen ammonia.
This study showed that the recirculated laboratory type bio-tower containing 0.276 ft3 (0.008 m3) of polypropylene growth media with a surface area of 6.624 ft2 (0.615 m2) can reduce the chemical oxygen demand between 70% to 87%. NH3-N reduction was found to be between 94% to 96%, and total phosphorus reduction was between 69% and 87% for flow rates of 0.6 l/min to 1.5 l/min.
Keywords: Bio-tower, wastewater treatment, chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorous, ammonia nitrogen.