Crumb rubber filtration: A potential technology for ballast water treatment

• Published in: Marine environmental research 2006-05, Vol.61 (4), p.410-423
• Main Authors: Tang, Zhijian, Butkus, Michael A., Xie, Yuefeng F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied sciences; Ballast water; Biological and medical sciences; Crumb rubber; Exact sciences and technology; Filtration; Filtration - methods; Filtration - standards; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invasive species; Marine; Particle Size; Phytoplankton; Phytoplankton - isolation & purification; Pollution; Rubber; Scrap tires; Sea water ecosystems; Seawater; Ships - methods; Synecology; Water Purification - methods; Water treatment and pollution; Zooplankton; Zooplankton - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2005.06.003

The removal of turbidity, particles, phytoplankton and zooplankton in water by crumb rubber filtration was investigated. A substantial reduction was achieved. Of the three variables, filter depth, media size and filtration rate, media size had the most significant influence. Smaller media size favored higher removal efficiency of all targeted matter. There was no apparent relationship between removal efficiency and filter depth. Higher filtration rate resulted in lower removal efficiency and higher head loss. Compared with conventional granular media filters, crumb rubber filters required less backwash, and developed lower head loss. Consequently crumb rubber filters could be run for a longer time or allow a higher filtration rate. The results also indicate that the crumb rubber filtration alone did not achieve the target removal of invasive species. However, crumb rubber filtration could potentially be used as a primary treatment technology to enhance the efficiency of a secondary treatment process (e.g., disinfection).