Sustainable Nutrient Removal System With Johkasou and Bio-Geofilter Hybrids.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Wastewater Treatment Technologies
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Domestic wastewater treatment often relies on centralized systems, which are not feasible for all regions.
• Nutrient removal from wastewater is crucial for preventing eutrophication and protecting water bodies.
• Decentralized wastewater treatment systems require efficient and cost-effective solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a hybrid Johkasou and biogeofilter system for domestic wastewater treatment.
• To assess the efficacy of granulated coal ash as a biogeofilter medium.
• To investigate the role of plants and coal ash in nutrient removal and system longevity.

Main Methods:

• A Johkasou system was augmented with a biogeofilter using granulated coal ash.
• Nutrient removal performance was monitored under varying wastewater conditions.
• The contribution of plant uptake and coal ash adsorption was analyzed.
• Plant species were evaluated for their phosphorus and nitrogen removal efficiencies.

Main Results:

• The hybrid system demonstrated stable nutrient removal performance.
• Granulated coal ash effectively adsorbed nutrients from wastewater.
• Flowering plants excelled at phosphorus removal, while green manure crops were better for nitrogen removal.
• Plant uptake facilitated the regeneration of coal ash adsorption sites, extending system lifespan.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid Johkasou-biogeofilter system using coal ash is a viable decentralized wastewater treatment solution.
• The synergistic action of plants and coal ash enhances nutrient removal efficiency and system sustainability.
• This approach offers a cost-effective and adaptable method for wastewater treatment in areas lacking sewerage infrastructure.