Potential for treating sewage wastewater using sewage sludge biochar

Abstract

In this study, activated biochar from municipal sewage sludge was used for the treatment of sewage water. The sewage physicochemical parameters were measured before and after bio filtration with biochar applying the principle of adsorption using the standard methods. Biochar with 500 m2/g surface area at a loading of 2.5 g/L was employed. A reduction of more than 75% was observed for the total nitrogen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total solids, electrical conductivity and the total phosphates. The sewage pH changed from alkaline to neutral after the adsorption process. Conversion of sewage sludge from biochar does not only present an opportunity for waste management but also effective water management'.