Comparing the Performance of Physical, Chemical and Biological Treatment in Waste Water Remediation

Abstract

This study is aimed at comparing the performance of physical, chemical and biological treatment in wastewater remediation using standard sampling methods of APHA (1999). Grey wastewater samples were collected from wastewater collection generated from the student’s hostel at Chukwemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Uli, Anambra State. Wastewater remediation involves treating contaminated water to remove pollutants before it will be reused. This process typically includes physical, chemical and biological methods. Physical method involves filtration, sedimentation and adsorption to separate solids from water. Chemical method uses coagulants, flocculants and disinfectants to neutralise contaminants. Biological method employs microorganisms to break down organic matter through processes like activated sludge or bio-filtration. The supernatant was then subjected to physicochemical analysis. The physicochemical analysis carried out in the cause of this study includes; determination of temperature, pH and conductivity, determination of phosphate, determination of chloride, determination of dissolved oxygen, determination of chemical oxygen demand, determination of total dissolved solid, determination of total hardness of the water and colour determination, which from the result obtained it was discovered that grey waste water has the highest values in pH (7.45), turbidity (356.79 NTU), chloride (151.2 mg/mL), colour unit (77.28 CU), total hardness (500 mg/mL), COD(500 mg/mL) and phosphate (50.0 mg/mL). While grey wastewater plus photocatalyst plus moringa extract has the highest value in temperature (279⁰C), Conductivity (418 µS/cm), TDS (313.50 mg/mL), and TDO (25.00 mg/mL) respectively. A thorough review of the purification processes been used in this study alongside literature, indicated that none of the treatment options can be used alone safely to treat wastewater to make them save for home use. It is therefore recommended that a combination of the performance of physical, chemical and biological treatment in wastewater remediation is needed to achieve a greater and better result.