Abstract
A laboratory scale study was undertaken to determine the potential of a method of filtering algae from water using fine sand/silt as the filter media. Five median sand sizes (0.064–0.335 mm) and four bed depths (3.175–12.700 mm) were examined in constant head experiments with the algae Scenedesmus quadricauda. A total of 46 experiments were conducted with continuous measurements of filtration rate, head loss and effluent quality. All media with median sand sizes at or below 0.200 mm gave consistently high algae removal rates. The average removal was 97.27% (based on fluorescence) with a low average initial head loss across the filter media of 7.3 cm (median grain size diameter of 0.200 mm with the bed depth of 3.175 mm). Initial filtration rates obtained in the experimental apparatus were as high as 226 m 3 m −2–day −1 (3.84 gpm ft −2), comparable to conventional sand units. Run times were short due to surface clogging of the media. No chemical addition was required to obtain high removal levels.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call