Comparative Studies of the Performance of Filter Media Made Using Biochar and Activated Carbon in Greywater Remediation.
ABSTRACT
The problem of water Scarcity, water pollution and cost of accessing water for domestic needs have become growing concerns to the ever increasing global population. Waterwaterremediation has long been accepted as a viable option to mitigate water scarcity.
This research examines the potentials of an environmentally friendly technique of using local but modified tropical plant materials in remediation of greywater for re-use.
Column adsorption experiment was conducted using synthesized and characterized Biochar and Activated Carbon made from Shea tree (Vitellariaparadoxa), African Mahogany tree (KhayaSenegalenses) and the Fig tree (FicusSycomous) as filter media in constructed filter columns made from polyvinyl chloride pipes.
Greywater Samples from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria‘s student hostel were passed through these filters at a hydraulic loading rate of 0.033m3/m2/day for a period of 21 days.
The parameters assessed in this experiment were Electrical Conductivity (EC), Biological and Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD and COD), Ammonium Nitrogen (NH4-N), Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3-N), Total Nitrogen (Tot-N), available Phosphate (PO4-P), Total Phosphorus (Tot-P) and pH.
The results obtained showed high treatment efficiencies for both Activated Carbon and Biochar on all tested parameters except for NH4-N in which AC had a low efficiency of 49% at one instance.
Activated Carbon had (85 – 95%) in remediating organic matter, (61 -81%) in remediating EC, (39 – 89%) in remediating NH4-N, (93 – 100%) for NO3-N, 92 – 99% for Total Phosphorus.
Biochar showed 88 – 92% efficiency in remediating Total Phosphorus, 91 – 99% for NO3-N, 68 – 89% for NH4-N, 85 – 90% for EC and 76 – 90% for organic matter removal.
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
With the continuous annual increase in the world population (lowest increase being 1.1%) there is need to manage our natural resources.
Water, which is one of these basic resources for human survival and socioeconomic development, needs to be managed efficiently.
The United Nations has estimated that the use of water has increased six fold in the 20th century and that by the year 2025, about 1.8 billion people will have absolute water scarcity conditions
(with an annual water supply of less than 500m3 per capita) and also that two third (2/3) of the world population will live under water stress (with an annual water supply of less than 1700m3 per capita) (U.N-Water Report, 2006).
This population increase will have adverse effects on developing countries where 82% of the world live and experience water scarcity (Dalahmeh, 2013). There is therefore need to properly manage and utilize existing water resources especially in the developing countries.
The reality of water scarcity, coupled with the increased potential health risk posed by greywater pollution necessitates a swift solution hence the idea of using locally available materials like biochar as a means of improving water quality, sanitation and reducing environmental problems has become attractive.
This study seeks to find simple inexpensive and locally available materials like charcoal and sand to solve environmental problems posed by water scarcity and water pollution.
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