Development of low-cost filters for the treatment of water polluted with food waste leachate

Abstract

This study investigates the efficacy of conventional and modified bio-sand filters as a low-cost filtering device for the treatment of groundwater contaminated with food waste leachate. Two kinds of waste materials, areca nut husk and water hyacinth stems, have been selected to alter the bio-sand filter. In conventional bio-sand filters, the ashes of these wastes are used as a filter medium. The ashes' physical characteristics, such as pH, ash content, and moisture content, have been measured. In leachate polluted water and purified water, tests for total solids, acidity, alkalinity, hardness, chloride content, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand have been performed. According to the testing findings, the developed filters are efficient in decreasing chloride, hardness, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, and biological oxygen demand. The same filters have also detected an increase in dissolved oxygen. According to this study, these low-cost filters might be used as a preliminary treatment system for leachate created by food waste recycling plants.