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ChE 52E
Environmental Engineering
Biotowers
A report submitted to
Engr. Camilla Flor Yagonia
By
Lumanog, Annette
Rubillos, Jonathan
Salas, Bernardo
Salise, Ferdinand Peter
Yocte, Josefino
Yu, James
Biotowers are structures used in the treatment of wastewater. Biotowers share many commonalities
with traditional trickling filters. Like the trickling filters, biotowers are essentially hollow structures
containing packing material. The packing materials serve as a medium where the microbial substrates
attach and wastewater treatment is accomplished by allowing the wastewater to come in contact with
the substrate. A simplified schematic diagram of the biotower is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Schematic Diagram of a Biotower
In the operation of the biotower, influent is pumped to the top of the tower and into an application
system. The application system is responsible for the uniform application of the influent to the media.
The application system can be fixed or rotating.
The wastewater then trickles down through the pore spaces of the media bed. The media bed may
consist of rock, wood, or synthetic plastics of different types. The media bed provides the surface from
which the microorganisms grow. In the selection of media for the bed, high void space and surface area
must be balanced versus cost. Different types of materials for the media bed are shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Media used in Biotowers
Biological reactions occurring at various depths are shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Biological reactions at various depths
The underdrain collects the treated effluent and either re‐circulates a portion or sends it out the
bioreactor for discharge. The underdrain also serves as a passageway for air entering the media bed.
Recirculation of a part of the effluent to dilute the influent stream may be necessary in some
applications.
Wastewater must be pretreated before it is charged into the biotower. Large particles or non‐
biodegradable particulates such as plastics, rags, and stringy materials may clog up the distributor and
the media.
Process applications along with process benefits and drawbacks are of the biotower are outlined in
Table 1 and Table 2, respectively.
Table 1. Process Application
Table 2. Process Comparison
Table 3 gives a general overview of the advantages and disadvantages of a biotower.
Table 3. Advantages and Disadvantages of the Biotower
Advantages Disadvantages
• Cost effective
• Odors
• Low power requirement
• Limited capacity
• Simple operation
• Pounding and clogging of filters
• Low sludge production
• High capital costs
• Low maintenance
• Effectiveness is temperature dependent
• Low labor requirements
A more detailed diagram of the biotower is shown in Figure 4, Figure 5, and Figure 6.
Figure 4. Diagram of a biotower
Figure 5. Biotower with packing in forground
Figure 6. Application system in use.