Poster Presentation 1B-32

 

Immobilized Biological Filter for Advanced Drinking Water Treatment

 

 

F. Ma,1 S.N. Sin,1* H. Chua,2 H.Y. Yang1 and H.Y. Wang1

 

 

1School of municipal and environmental Engineering

Harbin institute of technology

202 haihe road

Harbin 150090, P.R. China

 

2Joint Research Centre for Water and Wastewater Treatment Technology

Department of Civil and Structural Engineering

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hung Hom, Hong Kong, P.R. China

 

 

Metal-removing bacteria were isolated, studied and inoculated in an immobilized biological activated carbon (IBAC) system for advanced drinking water treatment.  Bacteria separated from matured filter bed of groundwater treatment plant were incubated in a culture medium containing iron and manganese.  A consortium of 5 strains of bacteria that were effective in removing iron and manganese were isolated by repeatedly enrichment culturing.  It was observed that these bacteria grew better in the media containing both Fe and Mn than in that containing only Fe.  No growth and biological activity were observed in the culture media containing only Mn.  Growth rates were indifferent of dissolved oxygen levels.  An IBAC system inoculated with this bacterial consortium, together with other organic-removing bacteria, simultaneously and effectively removed Fe, Mn and permanganate with removal efficiencies of 98, 96 and 55%, respectively.  Furthermore, with an operational hydraulic retention time of 30 minutes, the influent water with turbidity of 1.5 NTU, color of 25 degree and offensive odor was treated to a quality with turbidity of less than 0.5 NTU, color of less than 15 degree and odorless.  The sequential effects of activated carbon adsorption and microbial uptake achieved advanced drinking water treatment.