Study on Biofilm Mediated Biochar Biofilters for Rainwater Reclamation

Abstract

Concerns over water cleanliness have long been a global issue, particularly in developing countries. According to estimates from the World Health Organization and UNICEF, 2.1 billion people worldwide lack access to sufficient supplies of clean water. Rainwater harvesting systems (RHS) have been used extensively around the world because they enhance urban rainwater management, reduce demand on municipal water sources, and restore natural water cycles all at the same time. Due to their positive effects on the environment and economy, biological processes are considered among the most promising water reclamation techniques. Biochar is a thermochemically transformed biomass in an oxygen-limited atmosphere. Because of the lesser energy cost and ease of operation, biochar amended sand columns filters have been thought to be quite effective in an oxygen-limited atmosphere. The current study aimed to remove bacterial colonies from rainwater from two different locations using a biofilm mediated biochar amended sand filter inside a glass column. The current research investigation compared the eradication of bacterial load with biofilm mediated coconut shell biochar (CSB) with biofilm mediated corncob biochar (CCB). The biologically modified biochars have been thoroughly characterized in terms of surface functional group identification (FTIR) to clarify the observed effectiveness in eradicating bacterial colonies.The crystalline nature of CSB and CCB had also been determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Both before and after the treatment, rainwater samples were microbiologically analyzed. When compared to the results of biofilm mediated coconut shell biochar(CSB) and biofim mediated corncob biochar (CCB), the sharp decrease in bacterial colonies was ascertained after serial dilution. Because of the large surface area, higher pyrolysis temperatre and highly porous structure of corncob biochar (CCB) greater microbe or bacterial absorbance on its surface was observed as compared to coconut shell biochar.The presence of a biofilm on the surface of the biochar could play a role in the absorbance of bacteria. Biofilm-mediated corncob biochar (CCB) may have a more conducive environment for bacterial growth, leading to increased absorbance. In the current study, 90-98% reduction in bacterial colonies was obtained. After treating direct rainwater (DRW) and run-off rainwater (RRW) collected from the premises of Islamabad, the maximum reduction in different physicochemical parameters such as pH, EC,DO, COD,BOD, TDS, and total salts was observed.