Estimation of film accumulation in percolating filters: Comparison of methods

Estimation of film accumulation is necessary for the successful operational management of percolating filters. Prevention of ponding and loss of performance due to excessive film accumulation, and the optimization of the recirculation and alternating double filtration processes can only be achieved by regular monitoring of film growth. Five methods of determining film accumulation are compared; total film weight, total dry solids, volatile solids, percentage settlement of solids and the neutron scattering technique. The methods were used to monitor the film growth in pilot filters containing a mineral and a random plastics medium, over two twelve-month loading periods at 1.68 m³ m⁻³ day⁻¹ (0.28 kg BOD m⁻³ day⁻¹) and 3.37 m³ m⁻³ day⁻¹ (0.63 kg BOD m⁻³ day⁻¹).

Good correlations (P < 0.001) are found between all methods at the lower loading although the neutron scattering results are not significantly correlated (P > 0.10) with any of the gravimetric methods at the higher loading. Although the neutron scattering technique does provide a rapid and sensitive measure of hydrogen atoms in the filter, the results, expressed as percentage saturation of the voids, are not directly transferable to film weights and should be treated separately and not as a true measure of film accumulation.