Application of a Lava-Based Biological Aerated Filter as Pre- Treatment of Polluted Source Water for Drinking Water Production

摘要

This paper evaluates the feasibility of lava as the media of biological aerated filter to pretreat polluted source water for drinking water production. A bench-scale BAF based on lava was developed in a water supply plant located in South China. The performance of this BAF, i.e., nitrification properties and removal efficiency of manganese, organic matter, turbidity, were evaluated during the steady operation period. Comparisons with the full-scale bio-contact oxidation process were also drawn. The results suggested that this lava-based BAF showed a great ability for ammonia and manganese removal, with average removal rates at 80.13% and 81.84%, respectively. It was not so ideal with respect to the turbidity and organic matter removal, but it could apparently alleviate the loading of the following process. Periodic backwashing did not influence the performance of BAF except for the temporarily decrease of turbidity removal. Comparisons with the full-scale bio-contact oxidation process indicated that the lava-based BAF may have a good potential for pre-treating polluted source water for drinking water production.