Efficient and fast removal of total and fecal coliform, BOD, COD and ammonia from raw water by microwave heating technique

Abstract

Water born pathogen and diseases represent a major concern with respect to water quality. In recent years, high interests have been focused on controlling water born pathogen especially fecal, and total coliform in water resources. The disadvantage of water treatment by chlorine is related to the disinfection by-products (DBPs). Therefore, the study presented here is devoted to explore and testify the suitability and validity of microwave heating system as a promising disinfection and treatment process to remove total and fecal coliform as well as BOD, COD and ammonia from raw drinking water. Raw water samples were collected from two different inlet locations, Khandak El Sharqi Damanhour canal and, Mahmoudia Fisha canal, El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt and subjected to treatment by microwave heating for a period from 10 to 150 s. The collected results confirmed that total coliform and fecal coliform were efficiently removed (100%) upon microwave heating for 150 s. Similarly, the BOD values in raw water samples were 92–94% removed. Inhibition of COD parameter (48–49%) of the initial COD values in raw water samples were confirmed by the influence of also 150 s microwave heating. Finally, the effectiveness of microwave heating for ammonia from water was also established on the basis of excellent percentage removal (100%) of low concentration ammonia levels and (98%) of high concentration levels of ammonia nitrogen at adjusted raw water samples to pH 10–11. The proposed water treatment method may be regarded as a promising approach for removal of these pollutants from various water sources.