Abstract
This study examined the use of uncharred palm kernel shells as a filter medium in low rate filtration as a water treatment alternative. The filter column was made of 150 mm diameter PVC pipe about 1.8 m high. The filter medium (uncharred palm kernel shells) with size range 0.15 – 0.60 mm overlying two layers of graded gravels. The raw water passed through the filter medium and the effluent collected in a metal tank. The effluent was evaluated by monitoring the flow rate, turbidity, filtration rate, bacteriological quality and headloss across the filter bed for a daily six hour run for 14 days. The filter bed was cleaned using the throwing-over method after the filtration rate became appreciably very low at 1.20 l/min-m2. It was found from the results obtained that uncharred palm kernel shells could serve as an effective filter for low rate filtration relative to sand. An average hydraulic loading and filtration rate of 120.35 l/min-m2 and 5.5 l/min-m2 were achieved respectively. The turbidity of the filtered water reduced below 5.5 NTU after the eleventh day and the bacteriological treatment level though excessively high at 65 coliform/100 ml showed reducing tendencies (120/100 ml to 65/100 ml).
Highlights
The primary aim of the World Health Organization (WHO, 2006) guidelines for drinking water quality is the protection of public health
A typical water treatment plant consists of aeration, coagulation and flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection and distribution units
The slow sand filter was studied in this project and it precludes any chemical pre-treatment as against the rapid sand filter which is mostly used in most treatment plants because of its ability to remove about 99.9% of the bacteria present if it is not overloaded (Alam et al, 2007). This filtration technique employs the use of the filter medium, uncharred palm kernel shells in this case, as a mechanical and microbiological purifier of water
Summary
The primary aim of the World Health Organization (WHO, 2006) guidelines for drinking water quality is the protection of public health. It is a gelatinous layer or biofilm called the hypogeal layer or schmutzdecke This sticky film, which is reddish brown in colour, consists of decomposing organic matter, iron, manganese and silica and acts as a fine filter media that contributes to the removal of turbid particles in the raw water (Buzunis, 1995). It doubles up as an initial zone of biological activity and providing some degradation of soluble organics in the raw water, which is useful for reducing tastes, odours and colour.
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