Biosand filter containing melia biomass treating heavy metals and pathogens

Abstract

Water contamination poses serious threats to human health and is more prevalent in developing countries. A bio sand filter (BSF) is useful technology for developing nations because of its low cost and good treatment efficiency. Being a locally available plant species, melia (Melia azedarach) biomass was used in BSF to test its efficiency for metal and pathogen removal. Different concentrations (2~6 mg/L) of iron and lead and Escherichia coli-contaminated water were passed through a control sand filter (having no plant biomass) and BSF. The results showed that all three contaminants had higher removal rates in the BSF compared to the control sand filter. The removal of E.coli reached up to 100 percent on some days in the BSF, which was not the case with the control sand filter. The percent removal of Fe and Pb in BSF was 97.9~99.9% and 31~61%, respectively. Significant turbidity removal was also observed in BSF. Melia biomass is a useful bio-resource that can help to improve water quality in BSF.