Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Feasibility study of water purification using vertical porous concrete filter

  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cheapest and simplest techniques of filtration systems are required for rural water treatment in developing countries. Using a filter made of blocks for the water treatment enables us to make porous concrete filter and use it vertically. It is expected that the required area would decrease by more than 70 % if porous concrete filters were used vertically. The operation and backwash mode would be simpler than using horizontal sand filters as filters made of blocks would be used instead. The feasibility study focused on finding adequate materials, compositions and methods of making a block with enough resistance to water pressure, sufficient porosity for water transformation and using inexpensive and available materials. A pilot study was performed to determine an appropriate thickness of filter. Testing the porous filter in another pilot study using the low overflow rate of river water showed biological growth in that media and an adequate efficiency of about 90–100 % was obtained for decreasing the coliform bacteria. The required backwash water was 2.9 % of total treated water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • APHA, (1992). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Water Environment Association (WEA), Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, M.N., (1949). The quest for pure water. American Waterworks Association, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boller, M., (1980) Flocculation for Waste Water Treatment. Ph.D. Dissertation, Swiss Technical University, Zurich, Switzerland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Branson, P.G.; Frederick, P.H.; Robert, P.G., (2003). Algea attachment on carbonated cements in fresh and brackish waters-preliminary result. Eco. Eng., 20(4), 309–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herzig, J.R., (1970) Flow of suspensions through porous media, Application to Deep filtration. Ind. Eng. Chem. 6(2), 5–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, M. (2002), Setting Standards for the Bacteriological Quality of Washington’s Surface Waters. Draft Discussion Paper and Literature Summary. Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Program. Publications Distribution Center, Olympia, WA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jafari Dastanai, A.; Nabi Bidhendi, G.R.; Nasrabadi, T.; Hoveidi, H. Habibi, R., (2007). Use of Horizontal Flow Roughing Filtration in Drinking Water Treatment. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 4(3), 379–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karbassi, A.R.; Bayati, I.; Moattar, F., (2006). Origin and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in river bed sediments. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 3(1), 35–42.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kawmura, S., (1999) Integrated design of water treatment facilities. Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maroudas, A.; Elsenklam, P., (1965). Clarification of suspensions: A study of particle deposition in granular media, part 2: A theory of clarification. Chem. Eng. Sci., 20, 875–888.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richard, F.; Hugh, M.; Melvin, S., (1982). Status of porous pavement research. Water Res., 16(6), 849–858.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, K.J., (1975). Turbidity-A relationship between the types of particulate matter and measured turbidity. In: Proceeding of the 95th. Annual Conference of the American Waterworks Association, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sand, W. (1997). Microbial mechanism of deterioration of inorganic substrates-A general mechanistic overview, Inter. Biodeteriorat. Biodegradat., 40(2), 183–190.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tien, C., Turian, R. M., Pendese, H., (1979). Simulation of the dynamic behavior of deep bed filters. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), 25(3), 385–395.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yasunary, T.; Rie, S.; Kazuhiko, M.; Hajime, U., (2006) Estimation of self-purification capacity of biofilm formed in domestic sewer pipes. Biochem. Eng. J., 31(1), 96–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of the Environment and Energy, Islamic Azad University Science and Research Campus, Tehran, Iran

    M. M. Taghizadeh M.Sc. (Ph.D student in environmental engineering), M. Borghei (professor) & A. H. Hassani (assistant professor)

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate Faculty of the Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    A. Torabian (associate professor)

Authors
  1. M. M. Taghizadeh M.Sc.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Torabian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Borghei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. H. Hassani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. M. Taghizadeh M.Sc..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taghizadeh, M.M., Torabian, A., Borghei, M. et al. Feasibility study of water purification using vertical porous concrete filter. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 4, 505–512 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325987

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325987

Keywords

Search

Navigation