Filtration

The resultant water after sedimentation will not be pure, and may contain
some very fine suspended particles and bacteria in it. To remove or to
reduce the remaining impurities still further, the water is filtered through
the beds of fine granular material, such as sand, etc. The process of
passing the water through the beds of such granular materials is known
as Filtration.

How Filters Work: Filtration Mechanisms

There are four basic filtration mechanisms:

SEDIMENTATION : The mechanism of sedimentation is due to force of
gravity and the associate settling velocity of the particle, which causes it
to cross the streamlines and reach the collector.
INTERCEPTION : Interception of particles is common for large particles.
If a large enough particle follows the streamline, that lies very close to
the media surface it will hit the media grain and be captured.
BROWNIAN DIFFUSION : Diffusion towards media granules occurs for
very small particles, such as viruses. Particles move randomly about
within the fluid, due to thermal gradients. This mechanism is only
important for particles with diameters < 1 micron.
INERTIA : Attachment by inertia occurs when larger particles move fast
enough to travel off their streamlines and bump into media grains.

Filter Materials

Sand: Sand, either fine or coarse, is generally used as filter media. The
size of the sand is measured and expressed by the term called effective
size. The effective size, i.e. D10 may be defined as the size of the sieve in
mm through which ten percent of the sample of sand by weight will pass.
The uniformity in size or degree of variations in sizes of particles is
measured and expressed by the term called uniformity coefficient. The
uniformity coefficient, i.e. (D60/D10) may be defined as the ratio of the
sieve size in mm through which 60 percent of the sample of sand will
pass, to the effective size of the sand.

Gravel: The layers of sand may be supported on gravel, which permits

the filtered water to move freely to the under drains, and allows the wash
water to move uniformly upwards.

Other materials: Instead of using sand, sometimes, anthrafilt is used as

filter media. Anthrafilt is made from anthracite, which is a type of coal-
stone that burns without smoke or flames. It is cheaper and has been
able to give a high rate of filtration.

Types of Filter
 Slow sand filter: They consist of fine sand, supported by gravel. They
capture particles near the surface of the bed and are usually cleaned by
scraping away the top layer of sand that contains the particles.
Rapid-sand filter: They consist of larger sand grains supported by
gravel and capture particles throughout the bed. They are cleaned by
backwashing water through the bed to 'lift out' the particles.
Multimedia filters: They consist of two or more layers of different
granular materials, with different densities. Usually, anthracite coal, sand,
and gravel are used. The different layers combined may provide more
versatile collection than a single sand layer. Because of the differences in
densities, the layers stay neatly separated, even after backwashing.

Principles of Slow Sand Filtration

 In a slow sand filter impurities in the water are removed by a

combination of processes: sedimentation, straining, adsorption, and
chemical and bacteriological action.
 During the first few days, water is purified mainly by mechanical
and physical-chemical processes. The resulting accumulation of
sediment and organic matter forms a thin layer on the sand surface,
which remains permeable and retains particles even smaller than
the spaces between the sand grains.
 As this layer (referred to as “Schmutzdecke”) develops, it becomes
living quarters of vast numbers of micro-organisms which break
down organic material retained from the water, converting it into
water, carbon dioxide and other oxides.
 Most impurities, including bacteria and viruses, are removed from
the raw water as it passes through the filter skin and the layer of
filter bed sand just below. The purification mechanisms extend from
the filter skin to approx. 0.3-0.4 m below the surface of the filter
bed, gradually decreasing in activity at lower levels as the water
becomes purified and contains less organic material.
 When the micro-organisms become well established, the filter will
work efficiently and produce high quality effluent which is virtually
free of disease carrying organisms and biodegradable organic
matter.
They are suitable for treating waters with low colors, low turbidities
and low bacterial contents.

Sand Filters vs. Rapid Sand Filters

 Base material: In SSF it varies from 3 to 65 mm in size and 30 to

75 cm in depth while in RSF it varies from 3 to 40 mm in size and
its depth is slightly more, i.e. about 60 to 90 cm.
 Filter sand: In SSF the effective size ranges between 0.2 to 0.4
mm and uniformity coefficient between 1.8 to 2.5 or 3.0. In RSF the
 effective size ranges between 0.35 to 0.55 and uniformity
coefficient between 1.2 to 1.8.
 Rate of filtration: In SSF it is small, such as 100 to 200 L/h/sq.m.
of filter area while in RSF it is large, such as 3000 to 6000
L/h/sq.m. of filter area.
 Flexibility: SSF are not flexible for meeting variation in demand
whereas RSF are quite flexible for meeting reasonable variations in
demand.
 Post treatment required: Almost pure water is obtained from
SSF. However, water may be disinfected slightly to make it
completely safe. Disinfection is a must after RSF.
 Method of cleaning: Scrapping and removing of the top 1.5 to 3
cm thick layer is done to clean SSF. To clean RSF, sand is agitated
and backwashed with or without compressed air.
 Loss of head: In case of SSF approx. 10 cm is the initial loss, and
0.8 to 1.2m is the final limit when cleaning is required. For RSF
0.3m is the initial loss, and 2.5 to 3.5m is the final limit when
cleaning is required.