Optimization of roughing filtration unit for a handwashing wastewater recirculation point-of-use system
Loading...
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Water Science & Technology
Abstract
A downward roughing filter unit consisting of silica sand as the filter medium was optimized for performance towards removal of turbidity
and suspended solids from handwashing wastewater. Design-Expert software was employed to optimize media particle size, filter depth, and
flowrate. Linear and quadratic models were found to best fit the responses of turbidity and suspended solids removal, respectively. Particle
size and flow rate were the only parameters with significant effects on removal of turbidity and suspended solids. Optimal conditions were
found to be media particle size 0.6 mm, filter depth 12 cm, and flow rate 0.3 Lmin 1, corresponding to removal efficiencies of 62 and 67% for
turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS), respectively, as predicted by the model. Validation of model at optimal conditions resulted in turbidity
and TSS removal of 55 and 53%, respectively. Additionally, removal efficiencies of the roughing filter towards apparent colour, true
colour, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from handwashing wastewater were 56, 20, 32, and 5%,
respectively. Overall, although turbidity of filtered water was .50 NTU, the reduction achieved by roughing filtration is a significant step in
enhancing the performance of water treatment processes downstream, including filtration and adsorption by slow sand filters and activated
carbon, respectively.
Description
Keywords
Filtration, Handwashing, Recycling, Roughing filter, Wastewater
Citation
Olupot, P. W., Menya, E., Jjagwe, J., Wakatuntu, J., Román, F., & Hensel, O. (2022). Optimization of roughing filtration unit for a handwashing wastewater recirculation point-of-use system. Water Science & Technology, 86(10), 2528-2544. doi: 10.2166/wst.2022.358