Sand Filtration Research Articles

Startup performance and microbial composition of a pilot-scale rapid sand filter for the treatment of manganese-containing mine water

The inexpensive removal of soluble manganese [Mn(II)] from mine water that contains large quantities of Mn(II) should be prioritized given that large quantities of alkaline reagents are typically used in the chemical treatment of Mn-rich water from abandoned mines. Rapid sand filter (RSF) systems are widely used as a cost-effective technology in drinking water treatment processes to remove iron and Mn from groundwater. Here, we applied a pilot-scale RSF to treat mine water with a neutral pH and containing approximately 22 mg/L of Mn(II). Following a lag phase from its startup (day 1–day 26), Mn removal rates increased to approximately 40% for around 1 month (day 27–day 55) without the use of alkaline reagents but did not increase during further operation. Quantitative elemental analysis revealed Mn oxides on the sand filters during the Mn removal period. The bacterial communities on the RSFs, recorded on day 42 and day 85, were characterized and compared using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Although the well-known Mn-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) were not listed among the ten most dominant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) on the sand filters (relative abundances: >0.68%), a significant increase in the OTUs related to well-known alphaproteobacterial MOB, such as Pedomicrobium spp., were observed during the period.

Design of Filtration System for Aerated Sewage Water

The study investigated the potential of sand and activated charcoal filtration systems to enhance water quality for irrigation by treating aerated sewage effluent from. Setup involved a 60 cm deep sand filter connected as the inlet to another 30 cm deep sand filter and this filter linked as the inlet to a 30 cm deep charcoal filter. These filters were operated in series at hydraulic loading rates (HLR) of 60 m/h and 10 m/h. Notably, operating the filters in series at an HLR of 10 m/h yielded superior effluent water quality compared to an HLR of 60 m/h. System achieved significant removal efficiencies for turbidity, BOD5, COD, Total Nitrogen (Total-N), Total Phosphorous (Total-P) with 71.9%, 54.4%, 71.9%, 44.4%, 39.1%, and 42.9% with a 90 cm deep sand filter at an HLR of 10 m/h, and also with a combination of sand and charcoal filters at an HLR of 25 m/h system achieved 81.6%, 80.3%, 63.5%, 47.5%, and 64.3% respectively. We also examined the chemical characteristics of both untreated and treated sewage water samples, revealing a hierarchy of cation and anion prevalence as follows: Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ for cations, and Cl- > HCO3- > SO42- > CO32- for anions. Our study demonstrates that the combination of aeration and sand filtration effectively ensures safety by preventing water body pollution and unpleasant odours with high-quality treated wastewater suitable for sustainable agricultural use.

Narrow host range phages infect essential bacteria for water purification reactions in groundwater-fed rapid sand filters

Biofiltration is used worldwide to provide safe potable water due to its low energy demand and excellent treatment performance. For instance, in Denmark, over 95% of drinking water is supplied through groundwater-fed rapid sand filters (RSF). Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, have been shown to shape the taxonomic and functional composition of microbial communities across a range of natural and engineering systems. However, phages in the biofiltration systems are rarely studied, despite the central role microbes play in water purification. To probe this, metagenomic data from surface water, groundwater and mixed source water biofiltration units (n = 26 from China, Europe and USA) for drinking water production were analysed to characterize prokaryotic viruses and to identify their potential microbial hosts. The source water type and geographical location are found to exert influence on the composition of the phageome in biofilters. Although the viral abundance (71,676 ± 17,841 RPKM) in biofilters is only 14.4% and 17.0% lower than those of the nutrient-rich wastewater treatment plants and fresh surface waters, the richness (1,441 ± 1,046) and diversity (Inverse Simpson: 91 ± 61) in biofiltration units are significantly less by a factor of 2–5 and 3–4, respectively. In depth analysis of data from 24 groundwater-fed RSFs in Denmark revealed a core phageome shared by most RSFs, which was consistently linked to dominant microbial hosts involved in key biological reactions for water purification. Finally, the high number of specific links detected between phages and bacterial species and the large proportion of lytic phages (77%) led to the conjecture that phages regulate bacterial populations through predation, preventing the proliferation of dominant species and contributing to the established functional redundancy among the dominant microbial groups. In conclusion, bacteriophages are likely to play a significant role in water treatment within biofilters, particularly through interactions with key bacterial species.

System dynamic modelling to assess the influential factors affecting roughing filter and slow sand filter performance in treating culinary wastewater

This research aimed to determine the factors that influence the performance of a slow sand filter (SSF) equipped with a roughing filter (RF) as a pretreatment unit using system dynamic (SD) modelling. STELLA was used to model the system and predict the behavior pattern, as well as the system's performance in removing turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), BOD, COD, and phosphate. SD modelling consisted of system identification, system model framework, model structure building, system modelling, verification, and validation. Two sub-models were obtained from the main model, consisting of the RF and SSF sub-models. Results showed that dissolved oxygen (DO) and the growth rate of microorganisms played significant roles in the parameter removal. Predicted result by SD modelling showed a good fit with actual run, suggesting that factors applied in the model building were adequate to exhibit the actual system. RF removed 80.5 %–85 % of turbidity and 70.63 %–85 % of TSS, while SSF removed 48.50 %–82.43 % of turbidity, 0.92 %–46.15 % of TSS, 1.65 %–65.45 % of BOD, 22.69 %–65.22 % of COD, and 7.96 %–27.11 % of phosphate. Effluent after SSF was still having BOD and COD concentrations exceeding the governmental standard, in which increasing DO inlet and microorganism growth rate were simulated afterward. The scenarios used showed a positive impact on the removal of BOD and COD, resulting in an average concentration lower than the permissible limit (5 mg/L and 50 mg/L, respectively).

Three-year monitoring of the efficacy and improvement of the most popular arsenic removal filter in Nepal

This paper presents the monitoring results of the arsenic removal efficacy of 27 Kanchan Arsenic Filters (KAF) in Nepal over a 3-year period. The average arsenic removal rate was 57%; however, 84% of the filtered water samples exceeded WHO guideline values. Arsenic removal capacities declined from over 90% to below 30% within approximately 1 year. Replacement of iron nails improved the arsenic removal capacities of two different testing groups by 10% and 23%, respectively, whereas changing all filter media, i.e., sand, gravel, and iron nails, with a limited budget of USD 17 per unit, improved the arsenic removal capacity by over 90% on average. The results of this study revealed that one reason for the reduced arsenic removal capacity of the KAF was the change in the type of iron nails used by the manufacturer, the substitution of non-galvanized with galvanized nails. An analysis of the different stages of the arsenic removal process using KAFs with already declined arsenic removal capacity revealed that the average arsenic removal rate from the supernatant to filtered water was −24%. In contrast, on average, most of the total iron (91%) from the supernatant water was removed from the filtered water. Based on these results, it was suggested that natural sand compounds may play a role in arsenic removal, and is recommended that the filter sand of the KAF be replaced every 3–4 months to maintain the effectiveness of the KAF in rural areas of developing countries, considering its maintenance and monitoring issues.

Antibiotic resistance genes and the association with bacterial community in biofilms occurring during the drinking water granular activated carbon (GAC) sandwich biofiltration

The granular activated carbon (GAC) sandwich modification to slow sand filtration could be considered as a promising technology for improved drinking water quality. Biofilms developed on sand and GAC surfaces are expected to show a functional diversity during the biofiltration. Bench-scale GAC sandwich biofilters were set-up and run continuously with and without antibiotic exposure. Surface sand (the schmutzdecke) and GAC biofilms were sampled and subject to high-throughput qPCR for antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) analysis and 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Similar diversity of ARG profile was found in both types of biofilms, suggesting that all ARG categories decreased in richness along the filter bed. In general, surface sand biofilm remained the most active layer with regards to the richness and abundance of ARGs, where GAC biofilms showed slightly lower ARG risks. Network analysis suggested that 10 taxonomic genera were implicated as possible ARG hosts, among which Nitrospira, Methyloversatilis and Methylotenera showed the highest correlation. Overall, this study was the first attempt to consider the whole structure of the GAC sandwich biofilter and results from this study could help to further understand the persistence of ARGs and their association with the microbial community in drinking water biofiltration system.

Evaluation of the Removal and Effects of Cylindrospermopsin on Ripened Slow Sand Filters.

The occurrence of toxic blooms of cyanobacteria has been a matter of public health interest due to the cyanotoxins produced by these microorganisms. Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a cyanotoxin of particular concern due to its toxic effects on humans. This study investigated the removal and effects of CYN in ripened slow sand filters (SSFs) treating water from Paranoá Lake, Brasilia, Brazil. Four pilot-scale SSFs were ripened and operated for 74 days. Two contamination peaks with CYN were applied along the filtration run. The improvement of any of the evaluated water quality parameters was not affected by the presence of CYN in the raw water. The SSFs efficiently removed CYN, presenting concentrations lower than 0.8 µg/L in the filtered water. The microbiota of the SSFs were dominated by protozoa of the genus Euglypha and amoebas of the genera Arcella, Centropyxis, and Amoeba, together with some groups of rotifers. These microorganisms played a crucial role in removing total coliforms and E. coli. In addition, CYN was not identified as a determining factor in the microbiota composition.

Assessment of Biological Trickling System with Different Layers of Material for Grey Water Treatment

Greywater reuse is an attractive alternative whenever water resources are scarce because it can lower water demand and increase available water supply. This study used simple, easy-to-find treatment and purification methods to examine how gray sewage from homes could be used in agriculture. The primary motivation for reducing agricultural fertilizer consumption is financial gain. If feasible, society can achieve more acceptable economic objectives. The multimedia biofilter, a biological trickling filter, treats wastewater biologically by attaching biomass to various media. In this investigation, raw greywater was settled for two hours. The same influent was used to compare and contrast two treatment approaches. The treatment methods include an exploration of the effectiveness of two filters. The first filter comprises sand, gravel, cotton, and activated carbon filtration layers. The second contains sand, gravel, brick bat, wood chips, and rice husk filtration layers. Gray water was purified utilizing a sand filtration system (gravel and sand), along with the addition of other materials to improve the effectiveness of the treatment. These additional materials included cotton, active carbon, brick, wood chips, and rice husks. Chemical tests were performed on the graywater, and each component was identified. Overall, the sand-gravel-cotton-activated carbon filter improved greywater quality to irrigation standards by reducing organic matter. The second filter (made of sand, gravel, brick, wood chips, and rice husks) is a low-cost greywater recycling unit. But there is still room for improvement in how well these filters work with higher and changing loads and how long their materials last. As a result, most of the filter materials used were waste products generated inside homes and are said to be the least expensive and most inexpensive filters.

Assessment of solar photocatalytic degradation of textile wastewater by ZnO-based reactors

Abstract The present study deals with treating the textile wastewater of Jodhpur city in Rajasthan, India employing a photocatalysis technique. Jodhpur has a number of textile industries and efficient treatment of its effluents has been a major problem in the region. An effort has been made to resolve this issue through this study. A wastewater treatment unit was setup which involved coagulation and flocculation, sand filter, photoreactor, and activated carbon filter processes. ZnO-based semiconductor, coated on galvanized iron (GI) plates, served as a photoreactor. The water quality parameters removal efficiency at the end of each process operation was recorded for different detention periods in the photoreactor. Water quality parameters analyzed were biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and pH. The optimal retention time for the photoreactor was found and the BOD of the wastewater reduced to 25 from 740 mg/l (97% reduction), and TSS from 1,430 to 12 mg/l (99% reduction) for the corresponding retention time. TDS reduction efficiency was 25% and pH changed from 9.2 in raw wastewater to 8.4 in treated wastewater. Results show that the pilot treatment plant was efficient for BOD and TSS removal from the textile wastewater.

Oily wastewater treatment and reuse technology in low permeability oilfield

This paper takes Ordos Huaqing ultra-low permeability oilfield as the research object, analyzes the composition of the produced oily wastewater, and uses the treatment process of multiphase air flotation to shell filtration to quartz sand filtration to multi-effect evaporation to reuse the oily wastewater in the oilfield, analyzes the index changes of the purified oily wastewater. The results show that it has high oil content, salinity, sulfide, SS, sulfide and iron and manganese content. Through experimental combination and analysis of effluent quality, it is concluded that the process of multiphase air flotation→shell filtration→sand filtration→low temperature multi-effect evaporation is better, The average salinity of sewage in Huaqing oilfield used in the experiment is 2757 mg/L. and the dosage of polyaluminum chloride is 230 mg/L, polyacrylamide is 6 mg/L, the dissolved gas pressure of multiphase air flotation machine is 0.5 MPa, the reflux ratio of multiphase air flotation machine is 0.3, the dosage of defoamer is 5 mg/L, and the pH value is set at 5.5. The best treatment process of oilfield sewage and the best concentration of polyaluminum chloride and polyacrylamide are obtained. The research results provide theoretical data support for improving the treatment and reuse of oily wastewater in low permeability oilfield.

Effect of Types and Depths of Media Filter to Reducing Turbidity Concentration

Rapid sand filter is used to decrease the turbidity consentration. This research purpose is find the comparation of variation media to reduced turbidity from Wonokromo River. Silica and zeolite are used to be the media of rapid sand filter with effective sizes of 0,20 mm and 1,40 mm. Variation that used in this research are rapid sand filter single media and dual media with depth of 60 and 80 cm in each variation. Rapid sand filter dual media uses silica and zeolite with the comparison of 50 : 50. The result showed that every variation has more than 50% removal of turbidity. Rapid sand filter single media with 60 cm of depth reach 84,35% of turbidity removal and with 80 cm of depth reach 92,22% of turbidity removal. Rapid sand filter dual media (silica and zeolite) with 60 cm of depth reach 73,48% and with 80 cm of depth reach 87,77%. Result showed that rapid sand filter single media with 80 cm of depth reach the highest removal in every variation. It’s concluded that the media depth and sizes effect the effictivity of turbidity removal.

Enhancement of sand filtration performance by titanium-chitosan micro-flocculation coupled with ferrate(VI) pre-oxidation

Due to seasonal algal outbreaks in source water, the sand filtration (SF) suffering high load exhibited poor performance in turbidity and organic matter (OM) removal. However, the filtration performance is highly dependent on the state of contaminants. This study aims to improve removal efficiency of turbidity, algae and DOM by coupling a novel green titanium sulfate-chitosan (TS-CTS) compound filter aids with/without ferrate (VI) pre-oxidation. The results indicated that the turbidity decreased to 0.25 NTU and chlorophyll a removal up to 73.5% with TS/CTS (0.8/0.3 mg/L) filter aids were utilized, while the filtration cycle was not significantly shortened. The introduced Fe(VI) (5 mg/L, 10 min) before micro-flocculation realized moderate pre-oxidation and formed in-situ Fe(III), improved algae cells removal and effectively controlled of 2-methylisoborneol (＜10 ng/L) as well as the disinfection by-product precursors as polysaccharides and amino acid-like proteins. Positively charged in-situ Fe(III) as a dual-coagulant facilitated Ti hydrolysis and promoted the clustering, cross-linking, formed Ti-AOM/NOM-Fe complexes. Under the adsorption bridging and adsorption electro-neutralization of TS-CTS and in-situ Fe(III), the microflocs were formed, migrated, adhered and ultimately retained in filter layer media. This study can provide guidance for technological and agent selection in algae-laden surface water treatment.

Enzymatic analysis in household intermittent slow sand filters as a tool for assessing biological clogging

Intermittent slow sand filters for household use have become an established technology that is efficient, simple, and affordable for water treatment. However, bio-clogging can seriously limit hydraulic efficiency and water quality in this treatment system. Therefore, the use of new techniques for studying clogging in slow sand filters has been proposed. This study aimed to evaluate biological clogging using an enzymatic approach, considering also hydraulic aspects and water quality. Six filtration columns with two different granulometric characteristics (fine sand and medium sand) were operated with a downward flow and intermittent flow regime for 120 days. The bio-clogging of the filter media was evaluated considering the presence of esterase enzymes through the degradation of fluorescein diacetate (FDA). So, daily raw and filtered water analyses were performed for physical and chemical characteristics and hydraulic monitoring. The two granulometric characteristics used did not significantly differ between physical and chemical aspects of water quality within the parameters analyzed. The filters showed an average efficiency of turbidity removal of 79.6 % and 80.5 % for fine and medium sand, respectively. The enzymatic assay revealed the existence of microbiological activity throughout the extent of the filters in both granulometric configurations used. The results indicated a potential risk of contamination of the filtered water. The FDA technique proved to be an exciting tool in evaluating biological clogging in intermittent slow sand filters.

How effective is the retention of microplastics in horizontal flow sand filters treating stormwater?

Microplastics accumulate in stormwater and can ultimately enter freshwater recipients, and pose a serious risk to aquatic life. This study investigated the effectiveness of lab-scale horizontal flow sand filters of differing lengths (25, 50 and 100 cm) in retaining four types of thermoplastic microplastics commonly occurring in stormwater runoff (polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate). Despite the differences in particle shape, size and density, the study revealed that more than 98% of the spiked microplastics were retained in all filters, with a slightly increased removal with increased filter length. At a flow rate of 1 mL/min and after one week of operation, 62–84% of the added microplastics agglomerated in the first 2 cm of the filters. The agglomerated microplastics included 96% of high-density fibers. Larger-sized particles were retained in the sand media, while microplastics smaller than 50 μm were more often detected in the effluent. Microplastics were quantified and identified using imaging based micro Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The efficient retention of microplastics in low-flow horizontal sand filters, demonstrated by the results, highlights their potential importance for stormwater management. This retention is facilitated by various factors, including microplastic agglomeration, particle sedimentation of heavy fibers and favorable particle-to-media size ratios.

Low-Cost Water Filtration Process

Water purification has been a necessity since the beginning of civilization. Purification is necessary to reduce the risk of toxins from recharging runoff rain water and to avoid a variety of illnesses. In India, sand filters are often used to remove suspended and colloidal particles from water more quickly during the filtering process by laying down different sand beds. It's commonly used in industry to remove contaminants from water and waste water. The filtration process weakens at the start and end, lowering the filtrate's initial quality after back washing. However, scientists believe that the quality of water will deteriorate in the near future as a result of major increases in global warming, and that we must address this issue with appropriate solutions. The goal of this study is to present a variety of low-cost water filtration materials that are both effective and efficient at purifying water without being too expensive. These filtering materials can be used to replace sand filters, which take up more space, time, and maintenance, with filters that take up less space, time, and maintenance

QMRA of Ralstonia solanacearum in potato cultivation: Risks associated with irrigation water recycled through managed aquifer recharge

Agricultural aquifer storage recovery and transfer (ASTR) stores excess fresh water for later reuse in irrigation. Moreover, water quality improves because chemical pollutants and pathogens will be removed by degradation and attachment to the aquifer material. The source water may contain the bacterial plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum which causes plant infections and high yield losses. We used quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) to investigate the removal of R. solanacearum during ASTR to predict infection risks of potato plants after irrigation with the recovered water. Laboratory experiments analyzed the ASTR treatment by investigating the bacterial die-off in the water phase and the removal by attachment to the aquifer sediment. Die-off in the water phase depends on the residence time and ranged between 1.3 and 2.7 log10 after 10 or 60 days water storage, respectively. A subpopulation of the bacteria persisted for a prolonged time at low concentrations which may pose a risk if the water is recovered too early. However, the natural aquifer sand filtration proofed to be highly effective in removing R. solanacearum by attachment which depends on the distance between injection and abstraction well. The high removal by attachment alone (18 log10 after 1 m) would reduce bacterial concentrations to negligible numbers. Upscaling to longer soil passages is discussed in the paper. Infection risks of potato plants were calculated using a dose-response model and ASTR treatment resulted in negligible infection risks of a single plant, but also when simulating the irrigation of a 5 ha potato field. This is the first QMRA that analyzed an agricultural ASTR and the fate of a plant pathogen focusing on plant health. QMRA is a useful (water) management tool to evaluate the treatment steps of water reclamation technologies with the aim to provide safe irrigation water and reduce risks disseminating plant diseases.

An advanced treatment process for 3-high wastewater discharged from crude oil storage tanks.

The wastewater discharged from crude oil storage tanks (WCOST) contains high concentrations of salt and metal iron ions, and high chemical oxygen demand (COD). It belongs to "3-high" wastewater, which is difficult for purification. In this study, WCOST treatments were comparatively investigated via an advanced pretreatment and the traditional coagulation-microfiltration (CMF) processes. After WCOST was purified through the conventional CMF process, fouling occurred in the microfiltration (MF) membrane, which is rather harmful to the following reverse osmosis (RO) membrane unit, and the effluent featured high COD and UV254 values. The analysis confirmed that the MF fouling was due to the oxidation of ferrous ions, and the high COD and UV254 values were mainly attributable to the organic compounds with small molecular sizes, including aromatic-like and fulvic-like compounds. After the pretreatment of the advanced process consisting of aeration, manganese sand filtration, and activated carbon adsorption in combination with CMF process, the removal efficiencies of organic matter and total iron ions reached 97.3% and 99.8%, respectively. All the water indexes of the effluent, after treatment by the advanced multi-unit process, meet well the corresponding standard. The advanced pretreatment process reported herein displayed a great potential for alleviating the MF membrane fouling and enhanced the lifetime of the RO membrane system in the 3-high WCOST treatment.

Upgrading of conventional water treatment plant by nanofiltration for enhanced organic matter removal

Natural organic matter (NOM) is responsible for a variety of problems in water, including taste, odor, and color. If NOM is present in treated water, it can also promote microbial growth in water distribution systems. Another problem related with NOM is that it combines with chemicals such as chlorine in water resulting in the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). With the DBP regulations becoming more stringent, several advanced treatment methods started to be applied to enhance NOM removal. Pilot-scale advanced treatment tests employing tight nanofiltration (T-NF) membrane with high ion rejection capacity and loose nanofiltration (L-NF) membrane with low ion rejection capacity were conducted in this study in order to remove total organic carbon (TOC) having an average concentration of 2 mg/L at the sand filter effluent of a full-scale drinking water treatment plant and to avoid DBP production. The cost of incorporating membrane processes into the treatment process scheme was also determined during the study, in addition to the experimental studies. At constant 6 bar, the average fluxes for the T-NF and L-NF were determined to be 12.7 and 7.6 L /m2 h, respectively. L-NF had a TOC removal efficiency of 96.0%, which is quite similar to the removal efficiency achieved by T-NF (96.3%). Heavy metals, anions, and cations removal efficiency in T-NF membranes were greater than in L-NF, as expected. The removal efficiencies of Cl-, and Fe on T-NF membrane were determined to be 90.3 ± 2.2% and 69.6 ± 5.6, respectively, which are much greater than those achieved in L-NF membrane The total cost of 400,000 m3/d L-NF membrane system upgrade is calculated as 28,901,262 $/y including capital and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, while in T-NF is calculated as 28,074,282 $/y. The total cost of NF upgrading is estimated to be around 0.191–0.198 $/m3, which is nearly 50% of the cost of the conventional treatment plant. When upgrading a conventional treatment system with this type of membrane system, additional expenses are typically incurred, resulting in a higher total cost; however, the resultant water quality is significantly improved.

Influence of the diffuser plate construction design on the filtration hydraulic behaviour in a pressurized sand filter

Influence of the diffuser plate construction design on the filtration hydraulic behaviour in a pressurized sand filter

Scavenging microplastics and heavy metals from water using jujube waste-derived biochar in fixed-bed column trials

Extensive production and utilization of plastic products have resulted in the generation of microplastics (MPs), subsequently polluting the environment. The efficiency of biochars (BCs) derived from jujube (Ziziphus jujube L.) biomass (300 °C and 700 °C) for nylon (NYL) and polyethylene (PE) removal from contaminated water was explored in fixed-bed column trials. The optimum pH for the removal of both MPs was found 7. Both of the produced biochars demonstrated >99% removal of the MPs, while the sand filter exhibited a maximum of 78% removal of MPs. BC produced at 700 °C (BC700) showed 33-fold higher MPs retention, while BC produced at 300 °C (BC300) exhibited 20-fold higher retention, as compared to sand filters, indicating the higher efficiency of BC produced at higher pyrolysis temperature. Entrapment into the pores, entanglement with flaky structures of the BCs, and electrostatics interactions were the major mechanism for MPs retention in BCs. The efficiency of MPs-amended BCs was further explored for the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in fixed-bed column trials. BC700 amended with PE and NYL exhibited the highest 50% breakthrough time (2114.23 and 2024.61 min, respectively, for Pb(II) removal and 2107.92 and 1965.19 min, respectively, for Cd(II) removal), as compared to sand filters (38.07 and 60.49 min for Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal, respectively). Thomas model predicted highest adsorption capacity was exhibited by BC700 amended with PE (584.34 and 552.80 mg g−1, for Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal, respectively), followed by BC700 amended with NYL (557.65 and 210.59 mg g−1 for Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal, respectively). Therefore, jujube waste-derived BCs could be used as efficient adsorbents to remove PE and NYL from contaminated water, while MPs-loaded BCs can further be utilized for higher adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from contaminated aqueous media. These findings suggest that BC could be used as an efficient adsorbent to remove the co-existing MPs-metals ions from the environment on a sustainable basis.