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Water Purification Using Active Charcoal with Microbes and Chelated Iron Soaked into Its Micropores

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  • Hui-lian Xu

    (School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250024, China)

  • Ruitao Cai

    (School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250024, China)

  • Mengmeng Kong

    (School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250024, China)

  • Tao Ye

    (School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250024, China)

  • Jinsong Gu

    (School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250024, China)

  • Xiaoyong Liu

    (School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan 250024, China)

Abstract

Urbanization in China has led to a significant increase in surface water pollution, posing a threat to the health and safety of residents and hindering sustainable economic development. Individual traditional methods have been used to purify polluted water, including the use of bamboo-derived activated charcoal, microbial material, and zero-valent iron. However, these methods have been found to have certain limitations. This study investigates the effects of an activated charcoal material combined with beneficial microbes and chelated nano-iron in removing nitrates. The experiments were conducted at various scales, including a bench-scale study, and studies of a small river, sewage plant tailwater, and artificially constructed wetlands. The microbes used included Bacillus spp., Lactobacillus spp., and yeasts. During the fermentation process, nano-scale iron powder was added, resulting in the formation of bivalent iron ions under anaerobic conditions. These ions were subsequently chelated by organic acids. Bamboo-derived activated charcoal was then soaked in the fermented liquid, allowing the microbes, chelated iron ions, and organic acids to infiltrate the pores of the activated charcoal. This activated charcoal material, containing microbes and chelated iron ions, demonstrated effective nitrate removal in laboratory experiments and sewage plant tailwater treatment, and water purification in wetlands and rivers. It is important to note that this research solely focused on the removal of nitrates, and further studies are required to confirm its effectiveness in other aspects of water purification.

Suggested Citation

  • Hui-lian Xu & Ruitao Cai & Mengmeng Kong & Tao Ye & Jinsong Gu & Xiaoyong Liu, 2023. "Water Purification Using Active Charcoal with Microbes and Chelated Iron Soaked into Its Micropores," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-10, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:24:p:16727-:d:1297802
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tushar Kanti Sen, 2023. "Application of Synthesized Biomass Bamboo Charcoal–Iron Oxide “BC/Fe” Nanocomposite Adsorbents in the Removal of Cationic Methylene Blue Dye Contaminants from Wastewater by Adsorption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Yu Zhou & Xinmin Wang & Weiying Li & Shuyun Zhou & Laizhu Jiang, 2023. "Water Quality Evaluation and Pollution Source Apportionment of Surface Water in a Major City in Southeast China Using Multi-Statistical Analyses and Machine Learning Models," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Laisheng Liu & Jue Wang & Jijun Gao & Qiwen Wang & Tianying Lao, 2023. "Research on Rural Wastewater Treatment Technology in Northwest China Based on Anaerobic Biofilm Coupled with Anaerobic Baffle Plate Reactor (ABR) Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-21, June.
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