STUDY OF CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDIA USEFUL IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Abstract

The control of water pollution all over the world undoubtedly requires more efficient and reliable treatment techniques than the conventional processes which were considered as complete treatment in the past. There are many instances today where removal is needed of refractory organics which are not removed by the conventional processes such as Activated-Sludge Process and Trickling Filtration. In order to alleviate pollution or to permit reuse of the treated wastewater, for the removal of the organic refractories, process of adsorption forms, a very promising method. Adsorption by Activated-Carbon treatment of wastewater is usually thought of as a polishing process for the removal of the residual organics from the wastewater that has already received normal biological treatment. But its high cost of procurement has encouraged investigation on other cheaper adsorbents. Adsorptive capacities of Paddy-Husk Carbon (PHC), Paddy Husk Ash (PHA) etc. which are derived from agricultural residues, although low, as compared to Activated-Carbon, have been studied here. These studies have been done on a batch process, and phenol has been used as the adsorbate. The results have been plotted and discussed following the closest available isotherm for these materials. Residual phenol concentration in solution was measured by direct photometric method which was an easy and quick method. The adsorption capacity of PHA and PHC was found to be only a fraction of that for Activated—Carbon, as was expected. These media are recommended for further investigation, because these may be considered as promising adsorbents in a number of situations