Optimum size of granite filter media for the maximum treatment of domestic sewage in upflow anaerobic biofilters

Abstract

Laboratory studies were conducted to assess the influence of media related factors such as particle size, porosity, pore size and specific surface area on performance of upflow anaerobic biofilters (AnBFs). Three simple models of 8 litres capacity upflow anaerobic biofilters (AnBFs) packed with support media granite of size 40 mm, 20 mm and 10 mm respectively were installed. The experimental anaerobic biofilters (AnBFs) were made of PVC tubes. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was maintained as 12 hours. The study was carried out for a period of 90 days. The waste treatment performance indicates that the anaerobic biofilter (AnBF-2) packed with granite media of moderate particle size of 20mm demonstrated the highest BOD and COD removal 91.02 % and 82.01 % respectively. Copyright Enviromedia.