ADVANCED HIGHLY POLLUTED RAINWATER TREATMENT PROCESS

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4090/juee.2018.v12n1.50-58

Keywords:

Heavy metals, Anthropogenic, Eco-friendly, Ecological footprint, Toxic

Abstract

A new PVC-filter filled with recycled glass and crushed foam glass has been investigated the removal of major pollutants in rainwater to enhance the physical properties and enrich the matrix of this potential source of water with essential minerals. The physical properties of 10 pre-filtered and 10 post-filtered specimens of rainwater are tested. Then, all samples are analysed to assess the chemistry of rainwater. The ions found in pre-filtered rainwater follows the order: HCO3− > SO42− > NO3− > Cl− > F- for anions and Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > NH4+ > Sr2+ > K+ for cations. The relative abundance of heavy metals in pre-filtered rainwater follows the descending order: Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Se4+, Pb2+, Mn2+, As5+, Ni2+, Cd2+. On the other hand, the high concentrations of SO42-, NO3-, and the heavy metals found in this study can be signs of that Damascus rainwater is mainly of anthropogenic origin. After filtration, the analytes in rainwater becomes in conformity with the World Health Organization for drinkability. The performance of this filter is compared with Eugene Water & Electric Board. This comparison proves that this filter is greener and eco-friendly option to conventional rainwater purification practices. Results of this research prove the capability of this filter to shift polluted raindrops into a freshwater.

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Author Biography

Loai M. Aljerf, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria

Prof. Loai Aljerf is an academic researcher in analytical, environmental, and industrial chemistry. He is an expert in the investment of eco-friendly practices in the energy field. In addition, he is a partner in the Advances in Cleaner Production Network, a Senior Expert Chemist Member of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), and a member in the American University of Beirut. He published many papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences in three languages (English, French, and Arabic).

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Published

2018-07-27

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Articles