Full scale case studies of a simplified aerated filter (BAF) for organics and nitrogen removal

The limitation of available land far wastewater treatment facilities has ch allenged environmental engineers in searching for efficient and effective t reatment systems that will minimize space requirements for waste treatment. To meet these requirements, a fixed film biological process using a DeepBe d(TM) filter for aerobic and anoxic treatment was developed. The innovative biotechnology uses sand as the media to which microorganisms attach and as the filter media for solids retention. The unique characteristics of the b iosystem combine long sludge age and short hydraulic detention time and pro vide small footprints for the bioreactor. The novel technology has been suc cessfully practiced for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment in th ree (3) continents. This article gives details of a US facility to treat co ke plant effluent with high ammonia and phenol content, describes a plant i n Taiwan for polishing plastic manufacturing wastewater by combining ozone and biofiltration, illustrates nitrogen removal from a semiconductor factor y in Korea, and shows the results of a municipal treatment plant in Britain using BAF to pretreat peak loads from the dairy industry.