Comparison studies on treatment of automobile wash wastewater by filtration techniques using alum sugarcane bagasse and wood dust

• Published in: Desalination and water treatment 2023-12, Vol.316, p.160-167
• Main Authors: Latha, A., Ganesan, R., Venkatesan, G., Krishnakumari, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alum; Automobile wash wastewater; Chemical oxygen demand; Oil & grease; Sugarcane bagasse; Wood dust
• ISSN: 1944-3986
• DOI: 10.5004/dwt.2023.30183

Fast urbanization has boosted the automotive sector in cities. Two service stations collected car wash water, which was analyzed thoroughly. pH, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, oil & grease, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand, chlorides, and sulfates were measured. Chemical treatment used alum, while physical treatment used sawdust and sugarcane bagasse. Sample A contains wash water from 2- and 4-wheelers, while sample B has only 4-wheeler wash water. The empirical results show that physical treatment filter bed porosity, surface area, and height affect substance sorption. COD reduction for wood dust and sugarcane in sample A is 91.59% and 90.70%, while in sample B it is 81.40% and 86.70%. COD and oil & grease concentration were measured at 3, 6, and 9 cm filter columns. The percentage reduction in COD and oil & grease was related to filter material penetration. COD, oil, and grease removal effectiveness increases with filter bed depth. Alum’s COD reduction is 89.10 in sample A and 87.50 in sample B, according to coagulant dosage. Alum removes 92.40% and 93.20% of oil & grease in samples A and B. Sample A used sugarcane bagasse and sawdust to remove 94.31% and 93.40% of oil & grease. Removal percentages in sample B were 92.67% and 93.80%. Sugarcane and wood dust reduces COD and oil & grease more in sample A than sample B. Sample A had a lower alum removal rate than sample B.