Review of Two Decades of Experience with TF/SC Process
This article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 127, Issue 5
Abstract
The trickling filter solids contact (TF/SC) process is now over 20 years old, having been first demonstrated successfully in 1979 at Corvallis, Oreg. Design and operating concepts have evolved significantly since the first generation of plants. The purpose of this paper is to document the changes that have occurred since prior reviews. Data from four large plants (Santa Cruz, Littleton/Englewood, Central Valley, and Annacis Island) are used for illustration. The basis of the original peer reviewed U.S. EPA definition of the TF/SC process is reviewed. Pilot-scale and plant-scale research coupled with advanced analysis tools had allowed the overall horizons of the TF/SC process to be expanded, such that higher loadings have been obtained. For instance, use of modern plastic media has allowed the criterion that the majority of the biochemical oxygen demand be removed on the trickling filter while sustaining high total organic loadings. Owing to the features of the flocculator-clarifier and the superior thickening and compaction qualities of TF/SC solids, high solids loading rates can be obtained. As a result, current advanced designs occupy less footprint, and it is axiomatic that costs have been reduced. Furthermore, there is considerable potential to rerate, optimize, and debottleneck existing TF/SC plants to release low cost capacity.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Bratby, J. R., Fox, B., Parker, D., Fisher, R., and Jacobs, T. ( 1999). “Using process simulation models to rate plant capacity.” Proc., WEFTEC '99, Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, Va. (on CD ROM).
2.
Brown and Caldwell. ( 1978). “Fixed growth reactors.” West Point Pilot Plant Study, Vol. III, Rep. Prepared for the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle.
3.
Brown and Caldwell. ( 1983). “Pilot plant evaluation trickling filter/solids contact process with granular activated carbon filtration.” Rep. Prepared for the City of Garland, Tex.
4.
Brown and Caldwell. ( 1985). “Pilot scale evaluation trickling filter/solids contact process at the Papillion Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.” Rep. Prepared for the City of Omaha, Nebr.
5.
Chao, A. C., and Keinath, T. M. ( 1979). “Influence of process loading intensity on sludge clarification and thickening characteristics.” Water Res., 13(12), 1213–1224.
6.
Grady, C. P., Daigger, G. T., and Lim, H. C. ( 1999). Biological wastewater treatment, 2nd Ed., Marcel Decker, New York.
7.
James M. Montgomery Consulting Engineers, Inc. ( 1983). “Rotating biological contactor and trickling filter/solids contact pilot study.” Rep. Prepared for the Chino Basin Municipal Water District, Calif.
8.
Logan, B. E. ( 1999). “Biofilms.” Chapter 9, Environmental transport process, Wiley, New York, 300–326.
9.
Logan, B. E., Hermanowicz, S. W., and Parker, D. S. ( 1987a). “A fundamental model for trickling filter process design.” J. Water Pollution Control Fedn., 59(12), 1029–1042.
10.
Logan, B. E., Hermanowicz, S. W., and Parker, D. S. ( 1987b). “Engineering implications of a new trickling filter model.” J. Water Pollution Control Fedn., 59(12), 1017–1028.
11.
Logan, B. E., and Wagenseller, G. A. ( 2000). “Molecular size distributions of dissolved organic matter in wastewater transformed by treatment in a full scale trickling filter.” Water Environment Res., 72(3), 277–281.
12.
Manrique, A. ( 1999). “Pilot plant evaluation of the dual TF/SC process.” MS thesis, Facu. of the Grad. School, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, La.
13.
Matasci, R. N., Benedict, A. H., and Parker, D. S. ( 1986a). “Trickling filter/solids contact process: Full scale studies.” Rep. Prepared by Brown and Caldwell for the USEPA, EPA/600/S2-86/046.
14.
Mastasci, R. N., Clark, D. L., Heidman, J. A., Parker, D. S., Petrik, B., and Richards, D. ( 1988). “Trickling filter/solids contact performance with rock filters at high organic loadings.” J. Water Pollution Control Fedn., 60(1), 68–76.
15.
Mastasci, R. N., Clark, D. L., Heidman, J. A., Parker, D. S., Petrik, B., and Richards, D. ( 1989). “Author's response to discussion of trickling filter/solids contact performance with rock filters at high organic loadings.” J. Water Pollution Control Fedn., 61(3), 370–372.
16.
Matasci, R. N., Kaempfer, C., and Heidman, J. A. ( 1986b). “Full scale studies of the trickling filter/solids contact process.” J. Water Pollution Control Fedn., 58(11), 1043–1049.
17.
Norris, D. P., Parker, D. S., and Daniels, M. L. ( 1980). “Efficiencies of advanced waste treatment obtained with upgraded trickling filters.” Civ. Engrg., ASCE, 50(9), 78–81.
18.
Norris, D. P., Parker, D. S., Daniels, M. L., and Owens, E. L. ( 1982). “High-quality trickling filter effluent without tertiary treatment.” J. Water Pollution Control Fedn., 54(7), 1087–1098.
19.
Parker, D. S. ( 1983). “Assessment of secondary clarification design concepts.” J. Water Pollution Control Fedn., 55(4), 349–359.
20.
Parker, D., et al. ( 1996). “Design and operations experience with flocculator-clarifiers in large plants.” Water Sci. and Technol., 33(12), 163.
21.
Parker, D. S., Brischke, K. V., and Matasci, R. N. ( 1993). “Upgrading biological filter effluents using the TF/SC process.” J. Instn. of Water and Envir. Mgmt., London, 7(1), 90–100.
22.
Parker, D. S., Ekama, G., Melcer, H., and van Niekirk, A. ( 1998a). “Discussion of `Full-scale evaluation of factors affecting the performance of anoxic selectors.”' Water Environment Res., 70(6), 1225–1228.
23.
Parker, D. S., and Mastasci, R. N. ( 1989). “The TF/SC process at ten years old: Past, present, and future.” 62nd Annu. Conf. J. Water Pollution Control Fedn.
24.
Parker, D. S., Romano, L. S., and Horneck, H. S. ( 1998b). “Making a trickling filter/solids contact process work for cold weather nitrification and phosphorus removal. “Water Environment Res., 70(2), 181–188.
25.
Parker, D., and Stenquist, R. ( 1986). “Flocculator clarifier performance.” J. Water Pollution Control Fedn., 58(3), 214–219.
26.
Starkey, J. E., and Karr, P. R. ( 1984). “Effect of low dissolved oxygen concentration on effluent turbidity.” J. Water Pollution Control Fedn., 56(7), 837–843.
27.
Wahlberg, E. J., Keinath, T. M., and Parker, D. S. ( 1992). “Relationship between activated sludge flocculation characteristics and cell-surface polysaccharide concentration.” Water Sci. and Technol., 26(9–11), 2527–2530.
28.
Wanner, J. ( 1994). Activated sludge bulking and control, Technomic Publishing Co., Lancaster, Pa.
29.
Water Environment Federation (WEF) and ASCE. ( 1998). Design of municipal wastewater treatment plants, WEF manual of Practice No. 8, ASCE Manual and Rep. on Engrg. Pract. No. 76, Water Environment Federation, Alexandria, Va.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 127 • Issue 5 • May 2001
Pages: 380 - 387
History
Received: Jul 18, 2000
Published online: May 1, 2001
Published in print: May 2001
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.