ROTATING TUBE REACTOR FOR BENCH-SCALE BIOTOWER SIMULATION STUDIES

Fixed-film biological treatment processes have been routinely employed for various industrial wastewater treatment applications. Due to the nature of aerobic fixed-film biotowers, large-scale on-site pilot studies have typically been required for process investigations. The need exists for an effective small-scale (benchscale) methodology and equipment for conducting biotower simulation screening studies. A Rotating Tube Reactor (RTR) was designed and developed for this purpose. The RTR is made of PVC pipe and is mounted on rollers with a variable speed drive mechanism to provide continuous rotating motion. The RTR has been operated on several different wastewaters for biotower simulation studies. Based on controlling both the feed and recycle rates, the organic loading rate and the hydraulic loading rate can be determined and effectively used to simulate actual expected full-scale biotower operations. The methodology and performance evaluation of the RTR is presented herein. Actual test results are presented from RTR studies with industrial wastewaters.