Agro-industrial Wastewater Treatment Research Articles

Batch and semi-continuous treatment of cassava wastewater using microbial fuel cells and metataxonomic analysis

The treatment of agroindustrial wastewater using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is a technological strategy to harness its chemical energy while simultaneously purifying the water. This manuscript investigates the organic load effect as chemical oxygen demand (COD) on the production of electricity during the treatment of cassava wastewater by means of a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell in batch mode. Additionally, specific conditions were selected to evaluate the semi-continuous operational mode. The dynamics of microbial communities on the graphite anode were also investigated. The maximum power density delivered by the batch MFC (656.4 μW m-2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-2}$$\\end{document}) was achieved at the highest evaluated organic load (6.8 g COD L-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-1}$$\\end{document}). Similarly, the largest COD removal efficiency (61.9%) was reached at the lowest organic load (1.17 g COD L-1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^{-1}$$\\end{document}). Cyanide degradation percentages (50–70%) were achieved across treatments. The semi-continuous operation of the MFC for 2 months revealed that the voltage across the cell is dependent on the supply or suspension of the organic load feed. The electrode polarization resistance was observed to decreases over time, possibly due to the enrichment of the anode with electrogenic microbial communities. A metataxonomic analysis revealed a significant increase in bacteria from the phylum Firmicutes, primarily of the genus Enterococcus.

An overview of agro-industrial wastewater treatment using microbial fuel cells: Recent advancements

Discharge of agro-industrial wastewater causes severe damage to the environment due to the various hazardous components it contains. Progressive circular agriculture and industry involve closed cycles and zero-waste principles; therefore, waste treatment for subsequent reuse is of great interest. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising sustainable technology capable of treating wastewater at low cost without greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while simultaneously producing electricity. The principle behind MFCs is based on the conversion of chemical energy into electricity using electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) as a biocatalyst. This article presents an overview of the progress and recent advancements in MFCs as a pivotal technology for agro-industrial wastewater treatment with production of sustainable electricity, compared to conventional treatment processes. Furthermore, the fundamental aspects of the design, configuration, operation, and application of MFCs in wastewater treatment (i.e., removal of inorganic nutrients, nitrate, phosphate, sulfate, sulfide, ammonium, organics, dyes, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and petroleum) are comprehensively discussed. Despite the viability and potential of MFCs in treating agro-industrial wastewater and producing electricity, they face various limitations and significant challenges, which are highlighted in this review. Future opportunities and perspectives on MFC applications are also discussed. Further research is required to address MFC limitations, which could make them feasible and practicable for real-world applications. However, MFC technology is clearly an excellent option for simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity production without the need for external energy sources.

Effects of temperature, pH, and C/N ratio of sugarcane wastewater processing (vinasse) on Phormidium autumnale heterotrophic cultivation

Agro-industrial wastewater treatment processes using microalgae have been attractive due to high commercial-value biomass obtainment and contaminant removal efficiency. Cyanobacteria cultivation with the generation of biomass and bioproducts, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and pigments, is known by the term microalgae biorefinery. In this context, the present study aimed to heterotrophically cultivate Phormidium autumnale in sugarcane vinasse and evaluate its contaminant removals, emphasizing its value-added bioproduct production. The highest biomass productivity was reached at 35 °C, corresponding to 127.20 mg L−1 d−1, in a C/N ratio of 16 and pH of 7.5, with removals of organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus of 49 %, 47 %, and 28 % respectively. In the batch cultivation, removals of organic carbon (67 %) and nitrogen (70 %) were obtained, with maximum productivity in terms of biomass equivalent to the best performance of the tests performed on an orbital shaker (CCRD). Biomass generated by P. autumnale showed 21.33 % proteins, 4.26 % lipids, 197.53 mg g−1 blue phycocyanin pigment, and a varied carbohydrate composition, such as glucose (79.46 mg L−1), arabinose (44.53 mg L−1), mannose (9.84 mg L−1), galactose (2.76 mg L−1), and xylose (14.44 mg L−1). These monosaccharides are ideal in the formation of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and 0.91 g L−1 of total reducing sugars (TRS). Our results demonstrated the ability of P. autumnale to treat sugarcane vinasse, which becomes a medium for its cultivation, removing representative amounts of carbon and nitrogen, besides producing several bioproducts, such as proteins, lipids, phycocyanin pigment, and carbohydrates.

Open-cell ceramic foams covered with TiO2 for the photocatalytic treatment of agro-industrial wastewaters containing imazalil at semi-pilot scale

BackgroundImazalil is a fungicide widely used in postharvest agroindustry, which causes a negative impact on the environment. To remove it from agro-industrial wastewaters, solar heterogeneous photocatalysis, with the photocatalyst fixed onto support, constitutes a promising technique. In this work, two open-cell ceramic foams (with and without carbon) were evaluated as TiO2 supports. Technical and economic feasibility of photocatalysis with TiO2 supported on ceramic foams were assessed. MethodsFoams were covered with TiO2 by dip-coating and subsequent calcination. The obtained systems were characterized by different techniques. Lab-scale removal of imazalil in pure and real water matrices was studied for both materials. The highest performance system was also evaluated at semi-pilot scale. Significant findingsThe C-free support led to the highest photoactivity in both water matrices at lab-scale. No TiO2C synergistic effect was observed due to photon absorption phenomena detected for the support with graphite. The C-free foams coated with TiO2 can be used in solar reactors to decontaminate wastewater with imazalil, achieving 95% degradation and a nontoxic condition for Allivibrio fischeri bacteria at accumulated energy values less than 10 kJ·L−1. This technique can be adapted to each real situation through the adequate selection of the number of photocatalytic converters exposed to sunlight. After economic evaluation, the experimental technology could be considered cost-effective.

Granular activated carbon stimulates biogas production in pilot-scale anaerobic digester treating agro-industrial wastewater

This work examines the continuous addition (5 g/L) of conductive granular activated carbon (GAC) in an integrated pilot-scale unit containing an anaerobic digester (180 L) and an aerobic submerged membrane bioreactor (1600 L) connected in series for the treatment of agro-industrial wastewater. Biogas production increased by 32 % after the addition of GAC. Methanosaeta was the dominant methanogen in the digester, and its relative abundance increased after the addition of GAC. The final effluent after post-treatment with the aerobic membrane bioreactor had a total solids content <0.01 g/L and a chemical oxygen demand between 120 and 150 mg/L. A simple cost analysis showed that GAC addition is potentially profitable, but alternatives ways of retaining the GAC in the system need to be found. Overall, this study provides useful scientific data for the possible application of GAC in full-scale biogas projects.

Degradation of Agro-Industrial Wastewater Model Compound by UV-A-Fenton Process: Batch vs. Continuous Mode.

The degradation of a model agro-industrial wastewater phenolic compound (caffeic acid, CA) by a UV-A-Fenton system was investigated in this work. Experiments were carried out in order to compare batch and continuous mode. Initially, batch experiments showed that UV-A-Fenton at pH 3.0 (pH of CA solution) achieved a higher generation of HO•, leading to high CA degradation (&gt;99.5%). The influence of different operational conditions, such as H2O2 and Fe2+ concentrations, were evaluated. The results fit a pseudo first-order (PFO) kinetic model, and a high kinetic rate of CA removal was observed, with a [CA] = 5.5 × 10-4 mol/L, [H2O2] = 2.2 × 10-3 mol/L and [Fe2+] = 1.1 × 10-4 mol/L (kCA = 0.694 min-1), with an electric energy per order (EEO) of 7.23 kWh m-3 order-1. Under the same operational conditions, experiments in continuous mode were performed under different flow rates. The results showed that CA achieved a steady state with higher space-times (θ = 0.04) in comparison to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal (θ = 0-0.020). The results showed that by increasing the flow rate (F) from 1 to 4 mL min-1, the CA and DOC removal rate increased significantly (kCA = 0.468 min-1; kDOC = 0.00896 min-1). It is concluded that continuous modes are advantageous systems that can be adapted to wastewater treatment plants for the treatment of real agro-industrial wastewaters.

Biopolymer Recovery from Aerobic Granular Sludge and Conventional Flocculent Sludge in Treating Industrial Wastewater: Preliminary Analysis of Different Carbon Routes for Organic Carbon Utilization

The recovery of biopolymers from sewage sludge could be a crucial step in implementing circular economy principles in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In this frame, the present study was aimed at evaluating the simultaneous production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) obtainable from the treatment of agro-industrial wastewater. Two biological enrichment systems, aerobic granular sludge (AGS) and a conventional activated sludge operating as a sequencing batch reactor (SBR), were monitored for 204 and 186 days, respectively. The maximum biopolymers accumulation capacity was close to 0.60 mgPHA-EPS gVSS−1 in the AGS when operating at 3 kgCODm−3d−1, whereas in the SBR, it was about half (0.35 mgPHA-EPS gVSS−1). Biopolymers extracted from the AGS were mainly constituted by EPS (&gt;70%), whose percentage increased up to 95% with the OLR applied in the enrichment reactor. In contrast, SBR enabled obtaining a higher PHA production (50% of the biopolymers). Results suggested that organic carbon was mainly channeled toward metabolic pathways for extracellular storing in AGS, likely due to metabolic stressors (e.g., hydraulic selection pressure, shear forces) applied for promoting aerobic granulation.

Biotreatment Potential and Microbial Communities in Aerobic Bioreactor Systems Treating Agro-Industrial Wastewaters

The thriving agro-industry sector accounts for an essential part of the global gross domestic product, as the need for food and feed production is rising. However, the industrial processing of agricultural products requires the use of water at all stages, which consequently leads to the production of vast amounts of effluents with diverse characteristics, which contain a significantly elevated organic content. This fact reinforces the need for action to control and minimize the environmental impact of the produced wastewater, and activated sludge systems constitute a highly reliable solution for its treatment. The current review offers novel insights on the efficiency of aerobic biosystems in the treatment of agro-industrial wastewaters and their ecology, with an additional focus on the biotechnological potential of the activated sludge of such wastewater treatment plants.

Agro-Industrial Wastewater Treatment with Acacia dealbata Coagulation/Flocculation and Photo-Fenton-Based Processes

The removal of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total polyphenols (TPh) from agro-industrial wastewater was evaluated via the application of coagulation–flocculation–decantation (CFD) and Fenton-based processes. For the CFD process, an organic coagulant based on Acacia dealbata Link. leaf powder (LP) was applied. The results showed that the application of the LP at pH 3.0, with an LP:DOC ratio of 0.5:1 (w/w), achieved a high removal of turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), and volatile suspended solids (VSS) of 84.7, 79.1, and 76.6%, respectively. The CFD sludge was recycled as fertilizer in plant culture (germination index ≥ 80%). Afterwards, the direct application of Fenton-based processes to raw WW was assessed. The Fenton-based processes (UV/Fenton, UV/Fenton-like, and heterogeneous UV/Fenton) showed high energy efficiency and a cost of 1.29, 1.31 and 1.82 €/g/L DOC removal, respectively. The combination of both processes showed the near complete removal of TPh and DOC after 240 min of reaction time, with high energy efficiency. In accordance with the results obtained, the combination of CFD with Fenton-based processes achieves the legal limits for the disposal of water into the environment, thus allowing the water to be recycled for irrigation.

METHANE PRODUCTION IN THE CO-DIGESTION OF LANDFILL LEACHATE WITH DOMESTIC SEWAGE AND THE METHANOGENIC ACTIVITY OF FULL-SCALE UASB REACTORS

The study aimed to individually assess the specific methanogenic activity of the sludge of 10 UASB reactors from a full-scale domestic sewage treatment plant (STP) and the sludge behavior under conditions of anaerobic co-digestion of leachate with domestic sewage in dilutions (v/v) of 0.1%, 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 10.0%, 25.0%, 50.0%, 75.0% and 100%. In order to compare the influence of the activity on co-digestion sludge, a parallel test was performed with sludge coming from the treatment of swine wastewater under the same conditions as the test with STP sludge. Specific methanogenic activity results showed the difference between STP sludge conversion capacities at each reactor, as well as preponderant conversion routes, which can have several origins within the mesh of factors that affect the units. Co-digestion analyses pointed out a better adaptation of piggery sludge to higher organic loads, such as the viability of up to 50% of leachate in relation to treated sewage volume, while the STP sludge showed a more delayed response in methane production. The best co-digestion condition was 10% leachate. The study highlights the possibility of increased leachate fractions in the co-digestion with domestic sewage with methane production potential, with incorporation of sludge from agro-industrial wastewater treatment.

Food By-Product Valorization by Using Plant-Based Coagulants Combined with AOPs for Agro-Industrial Wastewater Treatment.

Re-using and adding value to by-products is one of the current focuses of the agri-food industry, following the Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations. In this work, the by-products of four plants, namely chestnut burr, acorn peel, olive leaf, and grape stem were used as coagulants to treat elderberry wastewater (EW), a problematic liquid effluent. EW pre-treatment using these natural coagulants showed promising results after pH and coagulant dosage optimization. However, the decrease in total organic carbon (TOC) was not significant, due to the addition of the plant-based natural coagulants which contain carbon content. After this pre-treatment, the photo-Fenton advanced oxidation process was selected, after preliminary assays, to improve the global performance of the EW treatment. Photo-Fenton was also optimized for the parameters of pH, H2O2, Fe2+, and irradiance power, and the best conditions were applied to the EW treatment. Under the best operational conditions defined in the parametric study, the combined results of coagulation–flocculation–decantation (CFD) and photo-Fenton for chestnut burr, acorn peel, olive leaf, and grape stem were, respectively, 90.2, 89.5, 91.5, and 88.7% for TOC removal; 88.7, 82.0, 90.2 and 93.1%, respectively, for turbidity removal; and finally, 40.6, 42.2, 45.3, and 39.1%, respectively, for TSS removal. As a final remark, it is possible to suggest that plant-based coagulants, combined with photo-Fenton, can be a promising strategy for EW treatment that simultaneously enables valorization by adding value back to food by-products.

Open-Cell Ceramic Foams Covered with Tio2 for the Photocatalytic Treatment of Agro-Industrial Wastewaters Containing Imazalil at Semi-Pilot Scale

Open-Cell Ceramic Foams Covered with Tio2 for the Photocatalytic Treatment of Agro-Industrial Wastewaters Containing Imazalil at Semi-Pilot Scale

Evaluation of solid-state production of myco-coagulant using various lignocellulosic media to reduce water turbidity

High turbidity and suspended solids (SS) are among the significant issues that affect rivers due to the wastewater discharge, terrain condition, land cover, rainfall, agriculture, and other development activities. Chemical flocculants such as polyacrylamide and aluminum sulfate are widely employed for agro-industrial wastewater treatment. However, excessive use of chemical coagulants is harmful to human beings and the environment. Therefore, efficient and economically viable bio-coagulants from renewable biological sources is highly sought after. Myco-coagulant (My-coag) is an organic coagulant produced by fungi that are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. This research aimed to evaluate My-coag solid-state production from locally isolated fungal strains using various lignocellulosic media. The fungus was grown on different lignocellulosic substrates such as cocopeat, sawdust, rice bran, and palm kernel cake for 7 days with a pH of 7.0 at 30 °C. My-coag was extracted from the fungal culture using an aqueous buffer solution of pH 7. The fungal growth rate and dry mass were the highest on cocopeat supplement which was about 1.4 g of dry weight. My-coag extracted from the cocopeat showed good flocculating properties in kaolin suspension with the removal of 96.7% turbidity compared to other substrates such as sawdust, palm kernel cake, and rice bran with the removal of 53.7, 19.6, and 11%, respectively. It is expected that further optimization of this process parameters will lead to the efficient removal of turbidity and solids from water and wastewater to move forward in green technology for sustainable growth in the “Clean Water and Sanitation Sector” and protection of the environment too.

2Biotechnological uses of microalgae: A review on the state of the art and challenges for the circular economy

Microalgae are important microorganisms regulating crucial biogeochemical cycles that also have a wide range of biotechnological applications. Their cultivation in conjunction with material and nutrient recycling represent a considerable opportunity as part of a regenerative economic system for exploitation of recycled matter, called the “circular economy”. In recent years, there has been considerable discussion about the potential of microalgae as feedstock for renewable biofuels, but there may be other diverse commercial opportunities for microalgae. A range of high-value products such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), pigments, and others bioactive compounds are useful as nutraceuticals and cosmetics, as well as for industrial purposes. However, unexplored natural sources of bioactive molecules from microalgae are gaining much attention since they can lead to the discovery of new compounds or bioactivities. In terms of environmental biotechnology, microalgae have a major role to play particularly for the treatment of agro-industrial wastewater, and against numerous pollutants such as heavy metal or pesticides. The present review has been prepared to update the potential of microalgae biomass for biotechnological applications other than biofuels. • Microalgae present opportunities for sustainable development in a circular economy. • Review of technological processes for biofertilizer production using microalgae. • State of the art in microalgae for industrial wastewater treatment.

Wireless UV-A LEDs-driven AOP in the treatment of agro-industrial wastewaters

A wireless UV-A LEDs lab-scale reactor powered by a resonant inductive coupling (RLC) system was built to maximize the UV photon absorption of agro-industrial wastewaters. The UV-A LEDs (λ = 365 nm) energy was supplied through a magnetic field generated inside of the photoreactor by induction coils placed on the external wall made of polyvinyl chloride. Immersing the light sources in the wastewater increases the photon transfer efficiency and the reaction rate. Maximum magnetic field and optical irradiance were obtained at 26.8 and 27.0 kHz, respectively.As proof-of-concept, elderberry wastewater (EW), olive washing wastewater (OWW) and white and red winery wastewaters (WWW and RWW) were treated combining the wireless UV-A LEDs with the Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) - Fenton reagent.Fenton experiments were performed using [Fe2+] = 10 mg L−1, [H2O2] = 500 mg L−1, pH = 3 and a reaction time of 4 h. With EW a DOC removal of 35% (k = 0.0696 h−1) was achieved, whereas adding the wireless UV-A LEDs (f = 26.8 kHz) 53% was attained (k = 0.1722 h−1). The Electric Energy per Order (EEO) for the wireless UV-A LEDs consumption was calculated (EEO LEDs = 48.7 kWh m−3 order−1) and for all the remain equipment (air pump, RC box and power amplifier), EEO total = 495 kWh m−3 order−1. Experiments with OWW presented a DOC removal of 62% and a EEO LEDs = 40.5 kWh m−3 order−1; RWW shown 40% of DOC removal and a EEO LEDs = 68.4 kWh m−3 order−1, while with WWW 35% of DOC removal and a EEO LEDs = 79.8 kWh m−3 order−1 were obtained. This work shows that wireless UV-A LEDs can be a promising alternative to conventional UV lamps and wired LEDs in the treatment of real wastewaters. However, optimization of the induction system is still needed, as well as the number and wavelength of the LEDs (e.g. UV-C LEDs) to reduce the overall treatment costs.

Agro-Industrial Wastewater Treatment with Decentralized Biological Treatment Methods

Food processing consumes high volumes of water, making agro-industries the third biggest industrial user of water after oil refineries, primary metals and chemicals industries [...]

Anti-fouling effect by internal air injection in plate-type ceramic membrane fabricated for the treatment of agro-industrial wastewater

The ceramic microfiltration membrane which composed of membrane body having macro pore and active layer having micro pore was fabricated successfully by the process including the sintering of tape-casted and laminated mixture of zirconia and polyvinyl butyral binder, and re-sintering after screen coating of zirconia. The average pore size and porosity of the fabricated membrane were 0.1855 μm and 40 %, respectively. A novel membrane microfiltration system adopting the fabricated ceramic membrane was also devised for the treatment of agro-industrial wastewater, and the effects of external air sparging and internal air injection were investigated. A significant improvement of permeability by external air sparging was not observed, and the permeate flux was about 20 L/m2/h. Despite the abnormal biomass status resulted from low water temperature and poor maintenance of facility, however, the system operated at the initial TMP of 0.4 bar and internal air injection intervals of 5 min showed excellent permeability of 100 L/m2/h. In addition, although several periodic internal air injections with inverse pressure was carried out, structural defects of fabricated ceramic membrane were not observed. Thus, it confirmed that the anti-fouling effect by optimum back-flushing strategy in fabricated ceramic membrane was effective for stability enhancement of agro-industrial complex wastewater treatment process suffering from maintenance.

Utilization of Biomass Derived from Cyanobacteria-Based Agro-Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Raisin Residue Extract for Bioethanol Production

Biofuels produced from photosynthetic microorganisms such as microalgae and cyanobacteria could potentially replace fossil fuels as they offer several advantages over fuels produced from lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, energy production potential in the form of bioethanol was examined using different biomasses derived from the growth of a cyanobacteria-based microbial consortium on a chemical medium and on agro-industrial wastewaters (i.e., dairy wastewater, winery wastewater and mixed winery–raisin effluent) supplemented with a raisin residue extract. The possibility of recovering fermentable sugars from a microbial biomass dominated by the filamentous cyanobacterium Leptolynbgya sp. was demonstrated. Of the different acid hydrolysis conditions tested, the best results were obtained with sulfuric acid 2.5 N for 120 min using dried biomass from dairy wastewater and mixed winery–raisin wastewaters. After optimizing sugar release from the microbial biomass by applying acid hydrolysis, alcoholic fermentation was performed using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Raisin residue extract was added to the treated biomass broth in all experiments to enhance ethanol production. Results showed that up to 85.9% of the theoretical ethanol yield was achieved, indicating the potential use of cyanobacteria-based biomass in combination with a raisin residue extract as feedstock for bioethanol production.

Microalgae cultivation integrated into agro-industrial wastewater treatment

The world demands more and more energy due to the continuous population increase. In parallel, high organic and nutrient contents of wastewater streams are generated from anthropogenic activities like urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural practices. The continuous discharge of these wastewater streams into water bodies has been considered responsible for oxygen depletion and eutrophication in the environment. Integrating microalgae cultivation into wastewater treatment can be a promising solution to produce renewable energy while removing pollutants. In contrast to several review articles published about microalgae cultivation on different wastewater streams, the current review is focusing mainly on microalgae-based wastewater treatment on agricultural waste streams. Hence, first of all, the main characteristics of different agricultural streams will be described, then microalgal consortia cultivation, as well as monoculture strains, will be evaluated. Moreover, the photobioreactor systems for agricultural wastewater treatment will also be summarized. Finally, harvesting methods for microalgae recovery will be presented.

Efficacy of Slow Sand Filtration System Embedded with Activated Carbon for Agro-Industrial Wastewater Treatment

Indiscriminate disposal of untreated cassava wastewater is a major environmental challenge faced by communities hosting indigenous cassava processorsin Nigeria. This study is therefore aimed at assessing theeffectiveness of a simple slow sand filtration system embedded with activated carbon layer for cassava wastewater treatment. The filters were loaded in layers with graded sand, gravel, and varying thickness of activated carbon bed. Cassava wastewater was obtained from a processing site at Ibogun, Ogun State,Nigeria. The filters were filled and left for about two weeks for “schmutzdecke” to form on the top surface of the sand bed and then operated at room temperature (28-34 °C) at hydraulic retention times of 6, 12, and 24 h. The result showed thatcollected wastewater hada mean value of 1357NTU, 385, 31.87, and 716mg/L ofturbidity, biochemical oxygen demand(BOD), hydrogen cyanide (HCN)content, and chemical oxygen demand (COD), respectively. These values wereabove the permissible limit set by the local and international regulatory agencies. The filters with activated carbon showeda drastic reduction in the pollutants load (BOD: 38%-57%, COD: 26%-46%, HCN: 79%, and NTU: 96.5%-98%). This is corroborated by P-values &lt;0.05 of 2.84 x 10-32and 1.69x10-29 for COD and BOD,respectively. The obtained result alsodisclosedthat some parameters did not conform to the acceptable limitbut there was a reduction in key pollutants of cassava wastewater. Therefore,the filter can be used as a low-cost treatment mechanism for cassava wastewater prior to disposal.