TITLE:
Rapid Method for Greywater Treatment and Their Potential Reuse in Agriculture
AUTHORS:
Eman Mahmoud El Qrenawi, Ibrahim EL-Nahhal, Mohamad R. Al-Agha, Yasser El-Nahhal
KEYWORDS:
Greywater, Microfilter, Sea Sand, Organoclay, Biochar, Charcoal, Sawdust
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Analytical Chemistry,
Vol.13 No.2,
February
25,
2022
ABSTRACT: Greywater, a type of wastewater, may be hazardous to human health and ecosystems. Greywater is a large fraction of wastewater that needs adequate attention for remediation and reuse in the agricultural sector so that a part of the water problem can be sorted out. This study aims to develop a rapid method for greywater treatment and reuse in agriculture. A microfilter consisting of sand, clay, organo-clay, charcoal, and biochar was designed and tested for greywater treatments. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Total Dissolved Salts (TDS), Electric Conductivity (EC), turbidity and pH values were measured before and after using the microfilter. Results showed tremendous removal efficiency of BOD, COD, TKN, by using the developed microfilter. The microfilter was also effective in treating and placing pH, EC and TDS in the acceptable range for suitable agricultural use. Using the treated greywater for irrigation in corn, tomato seedlings showed increased growth compared with the control group (plants irrigated with tap water). This microfilter treatment was economical, safe, easy to handle and easily applicable. These encouraging results suggest the application of this method in many countries for solving the water scarcity problem.