Matala Filter Media Filtration Technology   

As standard products, we offer:

• One “Rigid” Matala® and one “Flex” Matala®. The rigid structured Matala® may be your choice when you need a filter media mass that a self-supporting and less compressible, while the flex Matala® will suit your needs if easy cutting, easy media insertion and stacking into tanks are your preferred choice.
• Four progressive densities of Matala® , going from a more open structured media with thicker fibers and larger apertures to progressively denser structured media with progressively thinner fibers and smaller apertures.

SM150 extra low density

SM290 medium density

SM365 high density

SM460 extra high density

• Matala® media in sheets, rolls (coiled sheets) and tubes

Matala® in sheets

Matala® in Rolls

Matala® in tubes

All the above formats of Matala®, are characterized by their three-dimensional structured mass and very high void space/total volume ratio. Such characteristics result in a unique three-dimensional flow pattern of water and air bubbles throughout the media and a high resistance to clogging.
When applying Matala® filter media, make a choice of the shape and rigidity in function of:

• he shape of your filter tanks and the desired Matala® installation pattern.
• the type of wastewater to be treated:
。if BOD, COD and Suspended solids are high, to prevent clogging, the more open structured media with a lower specific surface are more suitable.

。if BOD, COD and Suspended solids are low, you may apply Matala® with higher density and specific surface to reach better nitrification.
• The process applied: aerobic, anoxic or anaerobic treatment.
• Your preferences, priorities with regards to reduction of BOD or particulate matter, as well as level of nitrification targeted.

For calculation of the volume of media needed the following table may be used as a guideline:

Matala Wastewater Design Parameters for Submer ged Aerated filter beds – For reference only！
	Suggested Matala	Vmedia/Vtank	BOD mg/L	SS	Daily BOD loading capacity
					gram /M3 - range
Primary treatment after septic tank	SM150	50 to 60%	>400	>500	520	650
	SM150	60%	>300	>250	640	800
	FSM190	60%	>300	>250	800	1000
Secondary and tertiary treatment	FSM190	60 to 75%	>150	9601200
	SM290, FSM290	60 to 75%	>150	14401800
	SM365, FSM365	60 to 75%	50-150	17602200
	SM460, FSM460	60 to 75%	18402300

Filtration design, flow patterns and cleaning:
In case of aerobic bio-filtration Matala® can be applied in trickling filters to achieve a higher nitrification rate or in submerged fixed bed filtration which results in a filtration with a higher ecological diversity of microorganisms.
Possible filtration patterns

• Vertical downwards flow: backwash may be combined with aeration bursts

• Vertical upwards flow: backwash may be done manual or by automated top-down spraying of wash water

• Vortex flow filtration combined with downwards or upwards flow is also possible thanks to the 3-dimensional structure of the media.

• Horizontal cross flow filtration can be applied in shallow filters up to maximum 50 cm water level and allows for a very efficient filtration and storage of particulate matter.

Progressive filtration will also help you to create filters with multiple ecological zones: in the initial filtration stage you will observe mainly a population of heterotrophic bacteria while in middle zones you will find mainly flock with nitrifying bacteria and in the latter zones you may notice higher organisms that are thriving on high protein bacterial flock.
This is very much comparable as what can be seen in natural river purification where the pollution level can be measured by the occurrence of specific plankton or animals.