June 1990 Evaluation of the Wastewater Treatability Constant in Trickling Filters orris E. Albertson Abstract: The hydraulicelly-driven trickling filter models of Ames, Eckentelder, Schulze, Velz, Germain and others employ a correlating coefficient, kay (OF Kzo) in the equation. This coefficient is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a treatability coefficient. It is really @ correlating coetficient which summarizes all factors that affect the rate of BOD, removal in a trickling fitter. However, normalizing the data trom @ wide range of wastes and trickling fiter configurations does allow one 10 develop comparable treatabillty constants. This paper employs the normalizing procedure set forth in an earlier paper and develops the trestability constants for 81 data sets from 32 different wastewaters in media depths from 1.65 to 12.2 m. In general, the treatability constants developed found that most industrial wastes are as readily biodegradable as domestic wastewaters, even though low kyo values are often produced and reported. The data employed are summarized in three tables. Key Words: Trickling filters, treatability coefficients, data correlation, treatability constants. For activated sludge there is a constant, k, which defines the rate of removal of BOD, as a function of time and concentration of the active mass. For trickling filters, there is also a k value, but the supporting factors of retention time and active mass are not available. While the k value in activated sludge is directly related to the timed rate of biodegradability or organic removal, this is not the case for typical k values used in trickling filter formulations. For this reason, engineers need a common basis of relating the treatability of the wastewaters processed by trickling filters in order to properly size the process. This basis can't be the absolute value of k since it is a rate function of the2 BOD; removal as a function of the hydraulic rate, temperature and media depth and takes the form of: kos Where: S, = influent SBOD, or TBOD, (L,), mg/L settled effluent SBOD, or TBOD, (L,), mg/L D = media depth, m (ft) q = average influent application rate, L/s:m? (gpm/tt?) n = hydraulic retention coefficient, dimensionless @ = temperature (t) coefficient, dimensionless While the absolute value of k is not meaningful to define treatability, it can be normalized and data from different sites can be directly compared on the basis of a normalized rate of BOD, removal. This procedure for normalizing k data was presented in an earlier paper", In this paper, results from a wide range of trickling filter operations will be evaluated using the suggested formulation to normalize the data for comparison of the relative treatability of each wastewater. The earlier paper pointed out that there are a number of predictable, controllable and uncontrollable factors affecting the value of k, but that the elimination of the effects of depth and BOD, strength result in a wastewater treatability constant k,. This constant, k,, will provide a comparative basis for defining the rate of BOD, removal as a function of the surface area or volumetric BOD, loading and becomes ky when normalized to 20°C using accepted values of theta.3 Since percent BOD, removal will decrease with increased loading and loading is a function of the hydraulic rate and BOD, strength, it is obvious that the Germain kj. value will decrease as a function of BOD, strength at a constant hydraulic rate. Thus, the comparison of treatability must be on the basis of similar organic loading. However, it is still possible that inadequate ventilation and hydraulic conditions may have depressed the true treatability of the wastewater. Further, if remaining SBOD, is less than 8-12 mg/L, the average k, values may have been reduced due to substrate limitations. Lastly, since much of the background results are based on total BOD, influent and settled effluent, clarification efficiency is a factor in those coefficients defined by TBOD. When nitrifying, the CBOD, values would often have been lower than the TBOD; most often reported. Despite the potential for distortion in defining wastewater treatability in a trickling filter, it is still of interest to analyze the treatability of a broad data base of trickling filter results. This data base was taken from the Dow Chemical co.® files, literature and plant data. The data to be analyzed has been grouped into three classifications: domestic (with and without the presence of industrial wastewaters), readily and slowly biodegradable industrial wastewaters. The data to be reviewed have been tabulated in Tables 1, 2 and 3 and sources of the data noted. Further, to avoid unnecessary confusion of the data, the data reflect only the vertical fully corrugated (VFC) media as originally developed by Dow Chemical Co. The surface area was about 85- 89 msm? (26-27 £t?/ft*). The influences of hydraulic application rate, both average and instantaneous, on the Dow data base are impossible to predict.4 There is no question that low average hydraulic rates have depressed k rates and that high instantaneous rates have enhanced k rates. However, there is no current understanding of interrelationships of average and instantaneous rates on k. The data have yet to be developed. All of the performance data has been reduced to two values: Kgy and k, Where temperature data were available. The definitions and criteria were as follows: kK, Ky - site-specific k coefficient which relates the rate of BOD, removal as a function of the media depth and hydraulic rate. Temperature corrected to 20°C used a theta value of 1.035. X,, Kyo - general treatability constant which relates the proportion of BOD, remaining as a function of depth and hydraulic rate that would occur at 6.1 m (20 ft) media depth and an influent BOD, of 150 mg/L. Where temperature data are available, the data are corrected to 20°C using a theta of 1.035", The kyo Value for domestic wastewater using a 6.1 m (20 ft) deep biotower is normally in the range of 0.176 - 244 (L/s)°5/m? (0.065 - 0.090 gpm**ft®) and the most common design value is 0.190 - 0.203 (L/s)%*/m? (0.070 - 0.075 gpm5/ft?). As pointed out in the earlier paper, this value would be improper to apply to a wastewater of significantly lower or higher strength or a depth different from 6.1 m. Table 1 contains municipal wastewater performance data from various sources as noted. The wastewater would be classified as municipal, but in three cases contained substantial quantities of industrial wastes. The high strength New Yorkwastewater was produced by a shopping plaza. In reviewing Table 1, the results of the 6.55 m deep Florida tower produced a low kay and kz») value for domestic wastes. Further review of that data reveals that the influent BOD, concentration is quite low, 69 to 80 mg/L. Unfortunately, the effluent TSS was not reported. However, experience would suggest that the effluent TSS was probably 25-30 mg/L. Thus, the endogenous respiration of the effluent TSS constituted the majority of the effluent BOD, and reduced the BOD, removal efficiency accordingly. Tests at two plants in a city in Missouri produced dramatically different kj) values. The plant with a majority of industrial wastes from poultry and dairy had a higher ko value than the pilot plant treating domestic wastes. This is partially explained by the probable substrate limitations and the low organic loadings for the domestic wastes. The low hydraulic rates may also have adversely affected performance. The units operating on domestic wastes in Missouri (MO) should be nitrifying at the 0.21 to 0.42 kg/m*d (13 - 26 1b/1000 £t*d) BOD, loading. Normalizing the data to 6.1 m (20 ft) and an influent BOD, of 2 120 mg/L supports the conservative design basis of 0.19 - 0.20 (L/s)°5/m? @ 6.1 m depth. ‘The 15 kj.» values for BOD, > 120 mg/L averaged 0.25(L/s)°*/m* (0.093 gpm®*/ft?) and only one value was less than 0.19(L/s)/m? (0.070 gpm5/ft?). This value occurred at a very high BOD, loading of 8.7 kg/m’d (540 1b/1000 ft®-a) where there would be oxygen limitations as well as poor settling of the suspended solids with trickling filter effluent. The industrial data were sorted into two categorie:6 wastewaters perceived as readily biodegradable into Table 2 and slowly biodegradable into Table 3. This categorization must be considered as perceptions, not necessarily fact, since cop data were not available to define the level of biodegradable organics. That is, the BOD, test can define only that portion of the total organics which will degrade in the lab test procedure. Table 2 provides test results for 11 wastewaters which are generally considered readily biodegradable. The Germain Equation Ky values ranged from 0.024 ~ 0.146 (L/s)°5/m* (0.009 to 0.054 gpm /ft®). The treatability constants ranged from 0.116 to 0.339 (L/s)°5m? (0.043 to 0.125 gpm°5/ft?) and the average k.) value was 0.203 (L/s)°5/m? (0.075 gpm*/ft?). Surprisingly, the candy wastes were most difficult to process. Reason or reasons are not obvious. The tests were generally conducted at high organic loadings — ranging up to 80 kg/m*-d (5000 1b/1000 ft®-d). The highest loadings generally produced a lower treatability constant probably due to oxygen limitations. ‘The kj,» value did not necessarily reflect this factor since organic loading is not a factor in the determination. Table 3 presents data from a number of industrial wastes which are usually perceived as slowly biodegradable. However, this perception is not always reflected in the Ko Value, as shown in the table. For example, tannery wastewater had a relatively high kp value, indicating good biodegradability of the BOD, fraction of the organics. Creosote wastewater also treated readily, although it could easily be perceived as difficult to treat. Pulp and paper wastewaters show a wide range of treatability.7 This is to be expected based on the wide range of pulping and bleaching processes. Due to the lack of temperature data, it is not possible to directly compare thé Alabama and New England Kraft mill data. That is, if the New England mills’ wastewater temperature was 35°C, the kj» and ky. values were significantly less than the Alabama mill results. A similar conclusion can be drawn regarding the N.Y. Paper Co. values. The anaerobic pond effluent and the refinery wastewater produced low treatability constants. In the first waste, biological pretreatment would be expected to reduce the rate and refinery wastewater is well known for lower rates of biodegradability. Discussion oné purpose for employing only the Dow Chemical co. pilot study data base and one full-scale operational results was to eliminate variability associated with the type of media. Secondly, the Dow data base was quite extensive, covering about 150 pilot studies. However, it Was not possible to eliminate variable hydraulic and oxygen availability conditions associated with each study. Clarification efficiency becomes more variable as the BOD, loadings exceed 0.65 kg/m? (40 1b/1000 ft*d) and the clarified effluent Tss was not available. Lack of effluent TSS data eliminated the possibility of correcting the data and estimating the effluent SBOD,.. However, the data are adequate to demonstrate that industrial wastewaters usually have good treatability constants and do not often adversely impact the treatability of the domestic wastewater. Industrial wastes with low treatability constants, such as textile mills, some types of paper millsand refinery wastes, were not unexpected. This is consistent with activated sludge experience where the majority of industrial wastes are readily biodegradable. The domestic wastewater treatability constants indicate that the design values in current use for vertical media are well founded when adjusted for the depth of the media. The presence of significant quantities of industrial waste may depress the Germain kj» value due to the higher BOD, concentration, hence BOD, loading, but may not impact the treatability constant, Kj. once understandable factors of organic loading and media depth are removed from the comparative analysis, future process analysis — complete with temperature SBOD,, COD and Scop data — will provide an improved basis for evaluating the effects of media configuration, hydraulics and ventilation. Summary and Conclusions The ability to reduce a wide range of process data to produce a treatability constant can be demonstrated with data based on one specific media type. The data gathered in the 1960s and 1970s did not adequately address the measurements of SBOD,, TSS and temperature, but still are useful to demonstrate the benefits of developing a treatability constant, which better defines the biodegradability of specific wastes in trickling filters. As the data base encompasses various types of media, additional factors such as media surface area, media configuration and wetting effectiveness will further disperse the data. However, when the primary factors affecting the value of ky, the media depth and waste strength are9 normalized, analysis of the remaining variables will lead to identification of the best media configuration, surface area, hydraulic modes and define the ventilation needs. Trickling filters have lacked a common and acceptable means of identifying performance, The kg (OF, Ko), value has been employed without understanding the inherent aspects of lio, which, in turn, lead to incorrect conclusions. While the ko methodology does not approach the accuracy inherent to F/M or SRT procedures for defining activated sludge, it does provide an approach that is based on a similar concept: performance is a function of loading, kg/md. For a given aerobic biomass thickness and surface area/n®, the filter volumetric loading can be translated aerobic surface loading and thence to kg BOD,/kg biomass-d or F/M and thence to SRT, employing yield data from the trickling filter operation. References Albertson, Orris E., "Know Your ARs From Your ks," submitted to the Jour. Wat, Poll Control Fed. (May 1990). Dow Chemical Co., internal files reporting the results of pilot and field investigations, property of American Surfpac Co. (1960 - 1973). 3. City of Cedar Rapids WWTP average monthly data (1986) provided by Dan Rockwell, (Sept 1987).‘Table 1. Domestic Wasto Germain k Values and Tholr Trestabilly Constants, 10 Tet Bop ‘grin Comin ype of waste Fiow Depth BODLend Cone. 8005, Temp tg, sgoamion Food Roovele FT mal eh iO. Sel Domest, Hesvy 10 190 215 ak dD 18ST Indust Loe, WY 2m 20 218 eat Donec OF a a Domestic, Hr oss es a oy 20 ots mss Os ed cae nee Domest FL 0 ae Oa Pe om es ts Cie ile es cs ome 4. 0006S] Dometic, grt 2018s aaa a0 India Lond, GA jo 20 «80st sak SSG Domeale, RY O12 088 7a aes a8 as Domewte, FL a ee a eT) Boman, Roary oas oar ea 00 a oe Indust! Lond, AP eas Oss twas ose tart awake eas oat east: CD ou ome tte mB Doneaie, Medion a a Co Indust Lond, MO Domeatie NO a rT 02 030 «0758S Note: corrected for temperature, when available An(L,/L,) gq" @ = 1.035 Normalized for media dopth and strength to develop treatabilty constant kane * bee (BY (Ee) soo retoronce 3‘Table 2. Ready Biodegradable Industial Waste Germain k Values Trot 800 fia Gorman Conant ype of Wasa Few-sgnn® ooh soDjead Come 0005, Tome al a Food Rooele FT Ee a MO Corel (Oy, om on «ms wme 2m tman oe os 0 isms tas Wont Pacing, NE bE asa asa eas tom ais oars BBD War Com wg. a TT 02 im obs tet mesma Syatboe Daly Waals 01847 aso oe CA oo on‘ sets Meat Paatng. K tas oS as 10 450985878, G7 SSmes(S it 100 818m emf Frown Foods, VE om 0s as as ore or me ss a oer con Pramacouical PA a a a a a CT) Fam Gunning. CA a a a a a 20 10S Ol wer thee Sugar Procmnang, CA io as a a as a0 sw CaS eo Provan, D a a a a andy Wastes, WD a a ) 01 100 15mm 007 1m 15 mae Bz Notas: (corrected for tomperatur, when avaiable by: Kao = @= 1.035 Pcorrected tor media depth and strength In(L,/L,) g5 D OF20‘Table 3. Slowly Blodegradablo Industial Waste Gormain k Values Trout BoD Gormsin Consiant i t3 Type of Waste Flow semi? Depth BOD.00d Cone, a LOCATION Foed Recycle FT mat sen? gpm? rat Mi, AL a a os 002 ono os” oon 5 wr 37 0028 oar 190 Oo 2158180 mM 000 apee 200 200 251710 oa a2 cos ans et oo 7 cose ase ‘eat Pasting (neorabia 043 200 218 a7 tre a ‘ona sate Pond Eftuen), NC 300 200 Sat tan “3 000 acer Fatnay, CX cr ee ea 3 a 10 05 «5D “8 0025 0020 Tonio a VA 088 oa? aT ie ‘aT On85 10 0 25 aa me 0088 Opa Fardboara Wil, OF Osa ee CT Paper Go, CAN a ae ar Doe os 07 ©1002 24 mr 0030 0040 o7 10 215 138 m5 0035 onas oss 30025 12 os 38 0005 002s 11s a5 129 mB 8 001s oor 150 1005 181 #2 36 0017 one Paper Co, NY 1s 135 Se ay ‘005 O05 135-200 «1510s sw 0051 050 25 ons 2s 4530 00s ape ‘Tannery Pras, wi a a as Ty iGaR Wi, Now England 033 087 aod 21 ae oat aba 06 070 00m a1 S 003 one? 190 05040078 aos mz 0038 007s te 068 ante?) m1 = ons: ose 14086 = 400 or we 0005 ons ves 0st anos a as — 00s ansr 20 100 40 aah 66 — 0038 = a07e 24 118 0 Bat 7 = 00s: oars Tonio VA a a a a2 oa a8 10 100 Swett re = 0.060 0057 18188887 os = 005 ass Grooeate Ma, WS 0085 100 aE 78 aaa ez oie anes oor 100 25 as 1888 9 = 0031 x08 O14 400-215 851008 wr X one 080 New \Correcte for temperature, when avallablo ®Comected for media depth and strength Ig, = AB (Lo/ Le) g-% Dos oe - D: OF Kero = Kao (ay a @ = 1.035