WASTEWATER TREATMENT IN TRICKLING FILTERS USING LUFFA CYLLINDRICA AS BIOFILM SUPPORTING MEDIUM

Domestic sewage treatment experiments were conducted in trickling filters in laboratory pilot plants in which the peeled dehydrated fruits of Luffa cyllindrica were used as a support medium for microbiological growth, in order to verify its capacity to remove organic matter, measured in terms of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5,20) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Other parameters such as suspended and settleable solids were also measured. The results obtained, when compared to results from similar pilot plant using stones as supporting medium, and with the removals predicted by classic formulas used for trickling filters design, indicated that this support medium may substitute with advantages, under specific conditions, the traditional support media. Further studies are recommended.