Applicability of different textile materials in filtration process integrated with SBR for wastewater reuse in small settlements

Abstract

In recent years, research activities on water reuse applications have rapidly increased to manage natural water sources efficiently. Although these applications in centralized treatment systems can be effective, there are some drawbacks, including the economic factors for small settlements. In this study, a textile filtration unit with the integration of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was developed and different textile materials were used to enhance the treated effluent quality for reuse purposes. While the textile filtration unit alone could not effectively remove the pollutants, the removal efficiencies could not exceed 36% for COD and 50% for BOD5. However, SBR integration in to the filtration system improved the treated wastewater quality and COD and BOD5 reductions were obtained higher than 93%. Activated carbon coated cotton textile materials and activated carbon cloth, which was used for the first time for wastewater treatment, increased the treatment performance. In the filtration system, although the suspended solids were high in the SBR effluent, no clogging problem was observed even with higher operation times. This paper presents the research results on this textile filtration system, and experimental findings are discussed on the applicability of the system for small communities. HIGHLIGHTS Different textile cloths as low-cost materials were evaluated for wastewater treatment.; Activated carbon impregnated cotton textiles exhibited better treatment efficiencies.; Activated carbon cloth as an outer filtration material on the metal braided cotton textile showed remarkable reductions in all pollutants.; SBR integration enhanced the filtration unit performance.;

Keywords

• domestic wastewater
• filtration
• reuse
• small settlements
• textile materials
• wastewater treatment