Waste brick and concrete for wastewater treatment by pilot and static test

Abstract

Water pollution is a globally issue. With population increase, this issue became more serious than before. All the authorities are seeking a way to solve this problem, especially China. However, there is a huge cost for treating vast amount of wastewater, particularly in rural areas. Low cost and easy maintenance treatment process is a sustainable choice such as trickling filter and constructed wetland. Currently, Activated sludge process is replacing these processes due to better performance, but the cost much higher. By improving the filled filter media, these processes could improve their performance. This study conducted lab-scale TF and static test to investigate the media such as Furnace blast slag, Maifan stone, Zeolite, Waste Concrete and Brick. The TF results presented waste concrete and brick achieved desirable performance and reliable to remove majority of pollutants (such as COD, TSS and turbidity), but poor to remove nutrients. The further static study was P removal. By adopting different condition, the removal rate was discovered that affect by pH and initial P concentration. This study also found zeolite, Maifan stone and waste brick released P in lower pH condition with lower and higher P concentration. By concluding these results, waste concrete presented greater adsorption for both pilot and static test. Waste Concrete could be recycled as filter media for treating wastewater in less developed areas.