REMOVAL OF IRON FROM POTABLE WATER USING A TRICKLING FILTER

A trickling filter for iron removal from potable water has been constr ucted and tested. Iron removal was found to be caused by both biologic al and physico-chemical iron oxidation. The extent of each oxidation t ype was assessed. in addition, iron concentration profiles were taken along the filter depth, for both biological and physico-chemical iron oxidation, under the same operating conditions. Significant quantities of iron precipitated, mandating a periodic filter backwash. The possi ble duration of the filter operating cycles was studied as a function of the inlet iron concentration and. the volumetric Bow-rate. The limi ts of feed iron concentration and hydraulic loadings on the filter wer e determined and appropriate operating diagrams were constructed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.