Speaker
Description
This study explores the potential of slow sand filtration as an economical alternative process to conventional water decontamination techniques for the removal of heavy metals from polluted waters. Specifically, we focus on the Tensift River, which is contaminated by metallic trace elements, notably Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, due to direct wastewater discharge from the Zn and Pb extraction industrial unit at Draa Lasfar mine near Marrakech, Morocco. Our research centers on the implementation of this cost-effective approach to decontaminate wastewater for potential reuse in irrigation and to study the effect of height and diameter of filter bed on slow sand filtration efficiency to decontaminate wastewater. To develop an accurate mathematical model of the filtration process, it is crucial to understand:
- The behavior of contaminated water within the filtration system.
- The determination of various variables required for model development in the dynamic filtration system.
Our objective was successfully realized and validated through experimental results. These results not only facilitated the development of a comprehensive mathematical model but also offered insights about the slow sand filtration process.
Results unequivocally demonstrate that slow sand filtration (SSF) is able to achieve complete removal, up to 100%, of metallic pollutants from contaminated water. Furthermore, the efficiency of this decontamination process is closely linked to the height and diameter of the sand bed within the filtration system. In particular, taller filters demonstrate a greater ability to remove pollutants when compared to shorter ones, thanks to an increased adsorption area featuring additional active binding sites on the sand surface in larger diameter columns and taller bed configurations, and enhances the adsorption process for metallic pollutants.
The dynamic behavior of the adsorption mechanism employed in the SSF process is accurately described by applying Langmuir kinetics of adsorption-desorption, with no discernible axial dispersion. This kinetic model serves as a valuable tool for predicting and understanding the intricate dynamics of the adsorption process within the SSF system.
In summary, our research highlights the potential of slow sand filtration as a cost-effective and efficient method for removing heavy metals from polluted waters, with implications for improved water decontamination practices.
KEYWORDS: Sustainable development,slow sand filtration, heavy metals, decontamination, removal efficiency and modeling.
