Study of Wastewater Treatment Efficiency by Trickling Filter Method Using Solar Power Energy

The development of wastewater treatment facilities has increased concern over their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Energy consumption is the main source of carbon emissions in wastewater treatment plants. The environmental impact of energy consumption in wastewater treatment plants can be reduced through different strategies, such as use of renewable energy sources.

Solar trickling filter pilot was designed and studied at Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences. wastewater was provided from the fish pool effluent. Results of project were analyzed with Retscreen Software.

The mean removal of BOD5, COD, TC and TSS were 90%, 69%, 92% and 53%, respectively. The removal efficiency of BOD5, COD and TSS decreased with increasing organic and hydraulic loading rate and cloudiness. Pilot activity reduces about 0.1 tons of CO2 emissions per year. pilot was not economically feasible due to its small size.

solar trickling filter system is associated with problems such as cloudiness, dust accumulation on the plates, sudden electric motor interruption due to battery drain and so on, however, its efficiency was optimal and expected to expand in industrial scale in Iran with high sunny days.