This study investigated down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) technology as a promising trickling filter (TF) using sponge media as a biomass carrier with an emphasis on protection of the biomass against macrofauna overgrazing. A pilot-scale DHS reactor fed with low-strength municipal sewage was operated under ambient temperature conditions for 1 year at a sewage treatment plant in Bangkok, Thailand. The results showed that snails (macrofauna) were present on the surface of the sponge media, but could not enter into it, because the sponge media with smaller pores physically protected the biomass from the snails. As a result, the sponge media maintained a dense biomass, with an average value of 22.3 gVSS/L sponge (58.1 gTSS/L sponge) on day 370. The snails could graze biomass on the surface of the sponge media. The DHS reactor process performance was also successful. The DHS reactor requires neither chemical treatments nor specific operations such as flooding for snail control. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the DHS reactor is able to protect biomass from snail overgrazing.
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Research Article|
January 31 2015
Protection of biomass from snail overgrazing in a trickling filter using sponge media as a biomass carrier: down-flow hanging sponge system
Takashi Onodera;
1Center for Regional Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
E-mail: onodera.takashi@nies.go.jp
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Kazuaki Syutsubo;
Kazuaki Syutsubo
1Center for Regional Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
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Wilasinee Yoochatchaval;
Wilasinee Yoochatchaval
2Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), 126 Pracha Uthit Road, Bang Mod, Thung Khru, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
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Haruhiko Sumino;
Haruhiko Sumino
3Department of Civil Engineering, Gifu National College of Technology (GNCT), 2236-2 Kamimakuwa, Motosu, Gifu 501-0495, Japan
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Motoyuki Mizuochi;
Motoyuki Mizuochi
1Center for Regional Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
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Hideki Harada
Hideki Harada
4Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-06 Aoba, Aramakiaza, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
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Water Sci Technol (2015) 71 (4): 518–523.
Article history
Received:
August 31 2014
Accepted:
January 12 2015
Citation
Takashi Onodera, Kazuaki Syutsubo, Wilasinee Yoochatchaval, Haruhiko Sumino, Motoyuki Mizuochi, Hideki Harada; Protection of biomass from snail overgrazing in a trickling filter using sponge media as a biomass carrier: down-flow hanging sponge system. Water Sci Technol 1 February 2015; 71 (4): 518–523. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.030
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