UMASHANKER SAIN* AND NARSI R. BISHNOI**
Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar-125 001 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : uss.rims@gmail.com; **nrbishnoi@gmail.com)
(Received : February 12, 2018; Accepted : April 13, 2018)
ABSTRACT
Conventional filtration technologies, slow sand filter and activated charcoal filter have low filtration rate, low removal efficiency, time consuming and require high level of attention at operational stage. The present study was designed to assess the removal efficiency of TSS using a multigrade multimedia filtration technique as a tertiary treatment for wastewater. The multigrade multimedia filtration column was prepared by acrylic and polycarbonate pipe (Perspex cylinder). Multimedia column consisted of a 150 mm diameter and 2.0 m in height containing total 600 mm depth of multi layered media of natural (sand, garnet, anthracite), synthetic (recycled glass media) and industrial waste (crushed ceramic bushes) products. Hydraulic Loading Rates (HLR) applied on multimedia columns ranged from 3.0-7.0 m/day and the media used were of an effective size from 0.3 to 3.0 mm. Secondary-treated effluent derived from activated-sludge plant was used to assess the removal efficiency of TSS and results showed that 98% removal of TSS was obtained by using multigrade multimedia filtration. This tertiary treatment improved the effluent quality as compared to requirement of permissible limits prescribed by the regulatory bodies for irrigation system.
Key words : Multigrade multimedia filtration, filter media, TSS, removal efficiency, hydraulic loading rates