Use of Peat in Septic Tank Effluent Treatment - Column Studies

1987 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahid Rana ◽  
T. Viraraghavan

Abstract Studies were undertaken to examine the performance of peat filters under dynamic operating conditions. Five laboratory columns were used to determine the treatment capacity of peat at varying hydraulic and organic loadings. The columns with 200, 250, 300, 350 and 500 mm of peat compacted to a density of 100 kg/m3 were studied treating septic tank effluent. All the columns were dosed at uniform rates of 64 mm/d, 89 mm/d, 115 mm/d and 140 mm/d of septic tank effluent for periods of 14, 16, 10 and 4 weeks respectively. Results of column studies showed SS removal of 85-99%, BOD, COD removals in the 40 to 80% range, TKN removal of 0 to 90% and phosphorus removal of 0 to 25%. In general, excellent ( > 95%) fecal coliform reduction was obtained.

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.N. Coleman ◽  
I.D. Gaudet

Abstract Filter columns were designed, constructed from sand, peat and coarse gravel, and their effectiveness assessed in the treatment of septic tank effluent. An initial loading rate of 4 cm/d was applied to the filter columns in either a downward or upward flow at a temperature of 10°C or 20°C. The loading rate was later increased to 8 cm/d. Filter-column plugging occurred in the downward flow treatment but not in the upward flow treatment. Fecal Coliform removal was usually greater than 95%, BOD removal was greater than 75%, and various removal levels were exhibited for other components. Microbial colonization of peat and gravel was effective as revealed by scanning electron microscopy.


1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Viraraghavan ◽  
A. Ayyaswami

Batch studies were conducted to determine the efficiency of Saskatchewan horticultural peat to remove biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphorus, nitrogen, and indicator microorganisms from septic tank effluent. Results of the studies showed that peat was effective in adsorbing 35–50% of dissolved BOD, COD, and organic carbon from the septic tank effluent and in removing indicator microorganisms to the extent of 45–70%. The studies showed that peat has the potential to be used as a medium for septic tank effluent treatment in areas with high water table and with bedrock at shallow depths. Because of leaching of pollutants from peat in the 2-h batch studies, it is necessary to conduct long-term column studies to observe the length of time up to which leaching continues and to evaluate the performance of a peat filtration system under dynamic conditions. Key words: batch studies, septic tank effluent, treatment, peat, adsorption isotherms, indicator microorganisms.


2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 1230-1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Y. Nie ◽  
N. W. Zhu ◽  
K. M. Lin ◽  
F. Y. Song

Fortified soil was made up of a mixture at a mass ratio 4/1000–6/1000 of sponge and natural soil according to the results of column experiment. The fortified soil had bigger porosity and higher hydraulic conductivity than the natural soil. The columns packed with 900 mm of the fortified soil endured a flow rate equivalent to 100 L/m2/d of septic tank effluent and the average chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal rates were around 92%, 75% and 96%, respectively. After 100 weeks of operation, the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the fortified soil kept higher than 0.2 m/d. The bigger porosity of sponge improved the effective porosity, and the bigger specific surface area of sponge acted as an ideal support for biomat growth and ensured the sewage treatment performance of the fortified soil. The comparable performance was due to a similar and sufficient degree of soil clogging genesis coupled with bioprocesses that effectively purified the septic tank effluent given the adequate retention times.


2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1412-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Y. Nie ◽  
N. W. Zhu ◽  
K. Zhao ◽  
L. Wu ◽  
Y. H. Hu

Soil columns were set up to survey the bacterial community in the soil for septic tank effluent treatment. When bio-clogging occurred in the soil columns, the effluent from the columns was in poorer quality. To evaluate changes of the soil bacterial community in response to bio-clogging, the bacterial community was characterized by DNA gene sequences from soil samples after polymerase chain reaction coupled with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis process. Correspondence analysis showed that Proteobacteria related bacteria were the main bacteria within the soil when treating septic tank effluent. However, Betaproteobacteria related bacteria were the dominant microorganisms in the normal soil, whereas Alphaproteobacteria related bacteria were more abundant in the clogged soil. This study provided insight into changes of the soil bacterial community in response to bio-clogging. The results can supply some useful information for the design and management of soil infiltration systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (15) ◽  
pp. 3205
Author(s):  
Marcin Spychała ◽  
Thanh Hung Nguyen

The objective of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of novel nonwoven textile filter technology for greywater treatment. This technology had already been used on a lab scale for septic tank effluent treatment; however, this study is the first time it has been used for greywater treatment. The set-up period with septic tank effluent (STE) feeding was significantly shorter than that of greywater feeding. The average capacities of both filter types were practically the same: 1.0–1.4 cm d−1. The relatively high efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) removal (58.8–71.6% and 56.7–79.8%, respectively) were obtained thanks to the relatively low filtration velocity and effective diffusion of atmospheric air into the greywater. The relatively high efficiency of total suspended solids (TSS) removal (67.0–88.4%) was obtained by reducing the effective pore size of the filtration layer due to high biomass concentration and accumulation of suspended solids. Thanks to hydrostatic pressure, the filters can work practically with very low energy consumption. The pollutants removal efficiencies were satisfactory in respect to simple construction and maintenance, low investment and operational costs.


1994 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 919-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. G. Check ◽  
D. H. Waller ◽  
S. A. Lee ◽  
D. A. Pask ◽  
J. D. Mooers

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Cochet ◽  
D. Derangère ◽  
T. Rousselle

The mass of nitrogen wasted from conventional soil absorption systems used as waste water drainage and treatment facilities sometimes contributes to pollution of vulnerable groundwater tables. The scope of nitrogen compounds transformation along the different stages of treatment shows that nitrate is quite often the nitrogen end product of efficient aerobic soil treatment for septic tank effluent. Results are reported from long term on-site compact sand filter study, showing that nitrate production depends on hydraulic conditions, but can be very efficient when filtering media is kept unsaturated, for an experimental hydraulic load of 15cm/day When clogging of the system is induced by increasing hydraulic load, nitrate production decreases drastically while removal for other parameters such as organic matter is also affected. A synthetic effluent study gives results on nitrification and denitrification operating conditions applied to sand columns and shows that denitrification can be efficient as a second step of treatment when an extra carbon source is added at the head of a second anaerobic sand column.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1564
Author(s):  
Sara Beck ◽  
Poonyanooch Suwan ◽  
Thusitha Rathnayeke ◽  
Thi Nguyen ◽  
Victor Huanambal-Sovero ◽  
...  

Decentralized wastewater treatment systems enable wastewater to be treated at the source for cleaner discharge into the environment, protecting public health while allowing for reuse for agricultural and other purposes. This study, conducted in Thailand, investigated a decentralized wastewater treatment system incorporating a physical and photochemical process. Domestic wastewater from a university campus and conventional septic tank effluent from a small community were filtered through a woven-fiber microfiltration (WFMF) membrane as pretreatment for ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. In domestic wastewater, WFMF reduced TSS (by 79.8%), turbidity (76.5%), COD (38.5%), and NO3 (41.4%), meeting Thailand irrigation standards for every parameter except BOD. In septic tank effluent, it did not meet Thailand irrigation standards, but reduced TSS (by 77.9%), COD (37.6%), and TKN (13.5%). Bacteria (total coliform and Escherichia coli) and viruses (MS2 bacteriophage) passing through the membrane were disinfected by flow-through UV reactors containing either a low-pressure mercury lamp or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting an average peak wavelength of 276 nm. Despite challenging and variable water quality conditions (2% < UVT < 88%), disinfection was predictable across water types and flow rates for both UV sources using combined variable modeling, which enabled us to estimate log inactivation of other microorganisms. Following UV disinfection, wastewater quality met the WHO standards for unrestricted irrigation.


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