查看文章

Biomass was assessed as a new approach for evaluating backwashed slow sand filters (BSF). Slow sand filtration (SSF) is a simple technology for water treatment, where biological mechanisms play a key role in filtration efficiency. Backwashed slow sand filters were previously recommended for small-scale filters (~1 m² of filtration area) as an alternative to conventional filters that are usually cleaned by scraping (ScSF). Biomass was never evaluated in BSF, which is a gap in the knowledge of this technology, considering the importance of its biological mechanisms. Therefore, for the first time, two filters operating under the same conditions were used to compare the influence of backwashing on biomass; one filter was cleaned by backwashing and the other by scraping. Biomass along the filter media depth (40 cm) was assessed by different techniques and compared in terms of cellular biomass (by chloroform …