Influence of Backwashing Time on Iron, Manganese, Ammonia and Turbidity Removal Using a Pilot-Scale Biological Filter

Abstract

Backwashing time is one of the most critical operational parameters for biological filter. In order to investigate the effect of backwashing time on iron, manganese, ammonia and turbidity removal, three backwashing time (5 min, 4 min and 3 min) were adopted. Results showed that the average concentration of total iron, manganese and ammonia in effluent was 0.025 mg/L, 0.007 mg/L, and 0.022 mg/L; 0.012 mg/L, 0.001 mg/L and 0.017 mg/L; 0.013 mg/L, 0.000 mg/L and 0.016 mg/L, respectively, which illustrated varying backwashing time had little influence on the removal efficiency of them. The turbidity in effluent was 0.28 NTU, 0.38 NTU, 0.57 NTU, respectively. The shorter backwashing time, the higher turbidity in effluent. Turbidity was almost completely removed in 0~0.4m of the media. After backwashing, the turbidity in effluent was decreased to less than 1 NTU in 40 min, droped to less than 0.5 NTU in 90 min.