Sand Filtration

Macaraeg | Samartino | Sta Ana

Description

Sand filtration is used for the removal of suspended

matter, as well as floating and sinkable particles. The
wastewater flows vertically through a fine bed of sand
and/or gravel. Particles are removed by way of
absorption or physical encapsulation. If there is
excessive pressure loss on the filter, it must be rinsed
Sand filters are used as a step in the water treatment
process of water purification.

In continuous filters (often upward-flowing filters), the

polluted sand is removed, rinsed and re-used
continuously, without interrupting the filtration process.

Discontinuous filters (often downward-flowing filters) are

stopped, and a rinse takes place in the opposite
direction. Air bubbles are blown into the sand bed to
make it swirl around. Filtered water then flows through
the filter bed in the opposite direction. The polluted
matter is released and flows away along with the rinse
water.
Surface filtration involves collecting the particles
above the filter bed. These particles jointly form a
macro-porous lump, which is able to collect new
particles in a very effective manner. Depth filtration
generally involves smaller particles that are more
difficult to collect, and which are bound to the sand
particles by adsorption. Dirt from surface filtration is
easier to remove during reverse rinsing compared to
dirt from depth filtration.
 Design Principles and Considerations
• First, to prevent the filter from clogging, the wastewater must be
pretreated to remove solids and scum. Pretreatment usually takes
place in a septic tank.
• After the solids have been removed, a pump equipped with an
adjustable timing mechanism or a siphon doses the wastewater to
the filter in timed intervals or when the tank becomes full.
• Applications are spaced intermittently to allow the filter media to
drain between doses.
• It also is important that wastewater be applied evenly across the filter
surface. This is accomplished either by flooding the surface
completely with a thin layer of wastewater, or spraying the
wastewater evenly over the filter surface.
 Application
•Iron-removal from groundwater using aeration and sand filtration.
•Final purification of wastewater, follow-up to metal precipitation and
sedimentation, to remove residual traces of metal-based sludge.
•Final purification of wastewater produced in the production of iron, steel
and non-ferro alloys. Sand filtration can be preceded by processes like
precipitation/sedimentation, coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation and
flotation.
•Purification of wastewater containing sand-blasting grit and paint particles,
at shipyards for example.
•Also used as final purification (or prior to active carbon filtration) to permit
re-use.
•Used in greenhouse horticulture as drain-water disinfectant (slow sand
filter)