Use of a rotating biological contactor system for treatment of septic tank effluents.

Authors

  • Elba R. Castillo-Borges Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
  • Beatriz Santos-Ocampo Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
  • Roger I. Méndez-Novelo Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
  • José A. Pietrogiovanna-Bronca Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
  • Arturo Espadas-Solís Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
  • Carlos Quintal-Franco Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
  • Roberto Pat-Canul Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán

Keywords:

septic tank, organic loading rate, rotation velocity, rotating contactor biological

Abstract

Although septic tanks is the most common wastewater treatment device used in the State of Yucatan, Mexico, it is a deficient purification process and therefore further treatment is needed. This work presents the results from a pilot-scale rotating biological contactor (RBC) process used to treat septic tank effluent. The RBC was operated with three organic loading rates (5.2, 15.9 and 17.2 g BOD5/m2·d) and two rotation velocities (15 and 30 rpm). COD, BOD5, TKN and NH3-N removal efficiencies were measured and a factorial analysis was carried out to determine the best operating conditions. The organic loading rate was shown to be the variable that had the greatest effect on the process, with lower loads and better efficiency (roughly 90% for COD and BOD5). Rotation velocity was significant for the removal nitrogenous
matter. The most efficient combination was found to be 5.2 g DBO5/m2·d at 30 rpm, which is equivalent to a tangential velocity of 16.49 m/min.

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Published

2013-08-03

How to Cite

Castillo-Borges, E. R., Santos-Ocampo, B., Méndez-Novelo, R. I., Pietrogiovanna-Bronca, J. A., Espadas-Solís, A., Quintal-Franco, C., & Pat-Canul, R. (2013). Use of a rotating biological contactor system for treatment of septic tank effluents. Tecnología Y Ciencias Del Agua, 4(3), 125–134. Retrieved from https://www.revistatyca.org.mx/index.php/tyca/article/view/369

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 3 (2013)

Section

Articles

License

By Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Based on a work at https://www.revistatyca.org.mx/. Permissions beyond what is covered by this license can be found in Editorial Policy.