Skip to main content

Rotating Biological Contactors

  • Chapter
Biological Treatment Processes

Part of the book series: Handbook of Environmental Engineering ((HEE,volume 8))

Abstract

Rotating biological contactor (RBC) is an attached-growth biological process, which consists of a series of rotating plastic media all coated with a layer of biofilm. The biofilm or slime on the media aerobically react with substances in a waste stream for bio-oxidation and nitrification, or anaerobically react with the substances for denitri-fication. This chapter discusses the theory, performance, design procedures, process control, applications, limitations, environmental impact, and design considerations of RBC process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

REFERENCES

  1. R. L. Antonie, Application of the Bio-Disc Process to Treatment of Domestic Wastewater, technical paper presented at the 43rd Annual Conference of the Water Pollution Control Federation, Boston, Mass, Oct. 4–9 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  2. R. L. Antonie, Three-Step Biological Treatment with the Bio-Disc Process. technical paper presented at the New York Water Pollution Control Association Annual Meeting. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. June 14–16 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  3. R. L. Antonie, Three-Step Biological Treatment with the Bio-Disc Process, technical paper presented at the New York Water Pollution Control Association, Montauk, New York, June 12–14 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Metcalf and Eddy, Inc. Wastewater Engineering Treatment and Reuse, 4th Edition, McGraw Hill, New York (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  5. US EPA, Innovative and Alternative Technology Assessment Manual. US Environmental Protection Agency Washington DC (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  6. H. H. Bonjes, J. A. Faisst, and T. S. Lineck, Capital, and O&M Cost Estimates for Biological Wastewater Treatment Processes. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Aug. (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  7. L. K. Wang, M. H. S. Wang, and C. P. C. Poon, Theoretical and Empirical Developments of Attached Growth Biological Systems: Part I. US Dept. of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA, Technical Report PB81-I30577, 86 p. March (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  8. G. L. Culp and N. F. Heim, Field Manual for Performance Evaluation and Troubleshooting at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 391 p. Jan. (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  9. C. T. Li, H. T. Chen, and V. C. Wu, “Treatment of Starch Industrial Waste by RBCs,” U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA. Technical Report AD-A126-377. pp. 960–989 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  10. T. Bilstad, Upgrading Slaughterhouse Effluent with Rotating Biological Contactors, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Technical Information Service. Springfield, VA. Technical Report AD-A 126-377, pp. 892–912 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  11. M. H. S. Wang, L. K. Wang, and C. P. C. Poon, Rotating Biological Contactors, Chapter 9, in the Handbook of Environmental Engineering, Volume 3. (L. K. Wang and N. C. Pereria, eds). Humana Press, Clifton, NJ, USA, pp. 427–448 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  12. N. K. Shammas, Interactions of temperature, pH and biomass on the nitrification process, Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, 58, 1, pp. 52–59, January (1986).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. L. K. Wang, N. K. Shammas, and Y. T. Hung (eds.), Advanced Biological Treatment Processes, The Humana Press, Totowa (2009).

    Google Scholar 

  14. P. A. Vesilind, Wastewater Treatment Plant Design, Water Environment Federation and IWA Publishing, Alexandria, VA, USA (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  15. N. K. Shammas, Biocontactors for developing countries, determination of design criteria and operational characteristics, Proc. Conference on Appropriate Technology in Civil Engineering, Institution of Civil Engineers, London, pp. 49–51 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  16. SD DENR Recommended Design Criteria for Rotating Biological Contactors, South Dakota Department of Environmental&Natural Resources, www.state.sd.us/denr/des/P&s/designcriteria/design-10.html(2005).

  17. L. K. Wang, M. H. S. Wang, and C. P. C. Poon, Rotating biological contactors. Effluent and Water Treatment Journal, 24, 3, 93 (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. L. K. Wang, N. K. Shammas, and Y. T. Hung (eds.), Biosolids Treatment Processes, The Humana Press, Inc., Totowa, NJ, 820 p. (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  19. I. Alemzadeh and M. Vossoughi, Biodegradation of toluene by an attached biofilm in a rotating biological contactor. Process Biochemistry, 36, 707–711 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. S. K. Brar and S. K. Gupta, Biodegradation of trichloroethlylene in a rotating biological contactor. Wa t . R e s. 34(17), 4207–4214 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. S. C. Costley and F. M. Wallis, Bioremediation of heavy metals in a synthetic wastewater using a rotating biological contactor. Wa t . R e s. 35(15), 3715–3723 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Y. B. Patil and K. M. Paknikar, Development of a process for biodetoxification of metal cyanides from waste waters. Process Biochemistry, 35, 1139–1151 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. H. Siegrist, S. Reithaar, G. Kch, and P. Lais, Nitrogen loss in a nitrifying rotating contactor treating ammonium rich leachate without organic carbon. Wat. Sci. Tech. 37(4–5), 598–591 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  24. H. Siegrist, S. Reithaar, G. Kch, and P. Lais, Nitrogen loss in a nitrifying rotating contactor treating ammonium-rich wastewater without organic carbon. Wat. Sci. Tech. 38(8–9), 241–248 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. A. Mohseni-Bandpi, D. J. Elliott, and A. Momeny-Mazdeh, Denitrification of groundwater using acetic acid as a carbon source. Wat. Sci. Tech. 40(2), 53–59 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. A. Mohseni-Bandpi and D. J. Elliott, Groundwater denitrification with alternative carbon sources. Wat. Sci. Tech. 38(6), 237–243 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. P. Teixeira and R. Oliveira, Denitrification in a closed rotating biological contactor: effect of disk submergence. Process Biochemistry, 37, 345–349 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. D. Mba, R. H. Bannister, and G. E. Findlay, Mechanical redesign of the rotating biological contactor. Wa t . R e s . Vol. 33(18), 3679–3688 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. P. Griffin and G. E. Findlay, Process and engineering improvements to rotating biological contactor design, Water Science and Technology, 41, 1, 137–144 (2000).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. I. Apilanez, A. Gutierrez, and M. Diaz, Effect of surface materials on initial biofilm development. Bioresource Technology, 66, 225–230 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. P. Griffin, P. Jennings, and E. Bowman, Advanced nitrogen removal by rotating biological contactors, recycle and constructed wetlands. Wat. Sci. Tech. 40(4–5), 383–390 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Y. Watanabe S. Kasahara, and Y. Iwasaki, Enhanced flocculation-sedimentation process by a jet mixed separator. Wat. Sci. Tech. 37(10), 55–67 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. B. E. Boumansour and J.-L. Vasel, A new tracer gas method to measure oxygen transfer and enhancement factor on RBC. Wa t . R e s . 32(4), 1049–1058 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. A. Castillo, F. Cecchi, and J. Mata-Alvarez, A combined anaerobic-aerobic system to treat domestic sewage in coastal areas. Wa t . R e s . 31(12), 3057–3063 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. A. Tawfik, B. Klapwijk, F. el-Gohary, and G. Lettinga, Treatment of anaerobically pre-treated domestic sewage by a rotating biological contactor. Water Research, 36, 147–155 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. B. Perez-Uz, M. Matin-Cereceda, L. Arregui, I. Campos, S. Serrano, and A. Guinea, Biofilm characterization of several wastewater treatment plants with rotating biological contactors in Madrid (Spain). Wat. Sci. Tech. 37(4–5), 215–218 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. T. Y. Pai, C. F. Ouyang, J. L. Su, and H. G. Leu, Modeling the steady-state effluent characteristics of the TNCU process under different return mixed liquid. Applied Mathematical Modeling, 25, 1015–1038 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. J. L. Wang, Production of citric acid by immobilized Aspergillus niger using a rotating biological contactor (RBC). Bioresource Technology, 75, 245–247 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. S.-H. Chuang and C.-F. Ouyang, The biomass fractions of heterotrophs and phosphate-accumulating organisms in a nitrogen and phosphorus removal system. Wa t . R e s . 34(8), 2283– 2290) (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. C. Helmer and S. Kunst, Simultaneous nitrification-denitrification in an aerobic biofilm system. Wat. Sci. Tech. 37(4–5), 183–187) (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. A. B. Gupta and S. K. Gupta, Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal from high strength domestic wastewater in an aerobic RBC biofilm. Wa t . R e s . 35(7), 1714–1722 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. N. K. Shammas, Wastewater management and reuse in housing projects, Water Reuse Symposium IV, Implementing Water Reuse, AWWA Research Foundation, Denver, Colorado, pp. 1363–1378, August 2–7 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  43. C.-L. Hsu, C. F. Ouyang, and H. T. Weng, Purification of rotating biological contactor (RBC) treated domestic wastewater for reuse in irrigation by biofilm channel, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 30, 165–175 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. S. Cortez, P. Teixeira, R. Oliveira, and M. Mota. Ratating biological contractors: a review on main factors attecting performance. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology. Vol. 7, No. 2. 1569–1705. June (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This chapter is updated based on the first edition (11), which was originally written by Mu Hao Sung Wang, Lawrence K. Wang and Calvin P. C. Poon. Dr. Mu Hao Sung Wang coauthor the chapter again in next edition.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wang, L.K., Wu, Z., Shammas, N.K. (2009). Rotating Biological Contactors. In: Wang, L.K., Pereira, N.C., Hung, YT. (eds) Biological Treatment Processes. Handbook of Environmental Engineering, vol 8. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-156-1_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics