Comparative study of wastewater treatment performance using infiltration-percolation with virgin and previously used sand
This study investigates the efficacy of infiltration percolation using virgin and previously used sand in the treatment of wastewater. In the context of growing environmental concerns, optimizing wastewater treatment processes is important for sustainable water resource management. The research primarily aims to assess the impact of sand quality on filtration efficiency and the potential clogging issues that arise in long-term applications. Two types of sand from the same origin (Bensergao) were evaluated: virgin sand, with its initial purity, and used sand, which had been previously exposed to wastewater. Both sands were characterized using DRX, SEM, MET, and BET techniques. The study then monitored the variation in various physicochemical parameters before and after infiltration, including infiltration speed, pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), dissolved oxygen, nitrate (NO3-), ammonium ions (NH4+), nitrite (NO2-), orthophosphate (PO43-), calcium hardness (Ca2+), total hardness (TH), and total alkalinity (TAC). The results revealed a clogging phenomenon in the filter bed using used sand; however, this did not significantly diminish the overall purification performance. Virgin sand exhibited reductions in COD by 85% to 99%, and PO43- by 82% to 94%, while used sand showed reductions in COD by 82% to 96%, and PO43- by 75% to 96%. Increases in NO3- and NO2- were observed in both sand types. The study also highlighted variations in electrical conductivity and dissolved oxygen, with values differing between virgin and used sand, reflecting the influence of prolonged exposure to wastewater.