PPLICATION OF TRICKLING FILTER WITH HYBRID BIOFILM SUPPORT MEDIA IN THE TREATMENT OF PETROLEUM EFFLUENT

O. L. Okan; V. I. Ugonabor; C. E. Onu; J. U. Chinedu

O. L. Okan Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy P.M. B. 5025 Awka, Nigeria
V. I. Ugonabor Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy P.M. B. 5025 Awka, Nigeria
C. E. Onu Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy P.M. B. 5025 Awka, Nigeria
J. U. Chinedu Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy P.M. B. 5025 Awka, Nigeria

Keywords: Luffacyllindrica, polystyrene, trickling filter, petroleum effluent, biofilms

Abstract

The use of biological trickling filter (TF) system in the treatment of petroleum effluent using Luffa cylindrica-polystyrene hybrid as biofilm support medium for microbiological growth was evaluated. The efficiency of the treatment process was measured in terms of turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD₅). The TF was set up with Luffa cylindrica-polystyrene hybrid biofilm support. The pilot scale trickling system was performed at an ambient temperature and the effluent from the system was measured for turbidity, COD and BOD₅. The result showed that the turbidity of the effluent was reduced to 94 % at a hydraulic retention time of 6 hrs. The COD was also reduced from 327-26 mg/l at 6 hrs. representing 92 % reduction in the COD value. The results obtained also showed that the TF achieved 78 % reduction in BOD₅.Therefore, the biological trickling filter treatment process appears to be a promising wastewater treatment method for petroleum effluent with respect to the turbidity, COD and BOD₅ removal