African Journal of
Environmental Science and Technology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0786
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJEST
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 1105

Full Length Research Paper

Biological removal of iron from groundwater in a pilot column on a filter support material with coated jujube seeds

FAYE Mamadou
  • FAYE Mamadou
  • Water, Energy, Environment and Industrial Processes Laboratory, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Dakar-Fann, Senegal.
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SAMBE Falilou Mbacké
  • SAMBE Falilou Mbacké
  • Water, Energy, Environment and Industrial Processes Laboratory, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Dakar-Fann, Senegal.
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TOURE Alpha Ousmane
  • TOURE Alpha Ousmane
  • Water, Energy, Environment and Industrial Processes Laboratory, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Dakar-Fann, Senegal.
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DIOP El Hadji Moussa
  • DIOP El Hadji Moussa
  • Water, Energy, Environment and Industrial Processes Laboratory, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Dakar-Fann, Senegal.
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NDOYE Mouhamed
  • NDOYE Mouhamed
  • Water, Energy, Environment and Industrial Processes Laboratory, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Dakar-Fann, Senegal.
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DIOP Mar Codou Guèye
  • DIOP Mar Codou Guèye
  • Water, Energy, Environment and Industrial Processes Laboratory, Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Dakar-Fann, Senegal.
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  •  Received: 22 April 2022
  •  Accepted: 23 September 2022
  •  Published: 31 December 2022

Abstract

A co-flow pilot filter with a packing support material (coated jujube seeds) was constructed and tested for the biological removal of iron from Senegalese groundwater. Indeed, it is a PVC tube with an internal diameter of 40 mm and a height of 90 cm. The performance of the filter was tested at a constant hydraulic head of 261.67 m3/m2 per day while the iron feed concentrations varied between 0.5-1, 0.5-1.5 and 0.5-2 mg/L, respectively. Coated jujube seeds, covered with a plastic layer and a biofilm containing microorganisms, were used as the filter material. The iron removal was carried out in a single stage, for which a period of two months was required for the maturation of the bed. In optimal working conditions (QL = 8.11 L/h; pH = 9.5; [Fe2+]0 = 2 mg/L; P = 1.013 bar and T = 25±1° C; Redox potential = 300 mV), an operating cycle time of 1 day has proven to be sufficient for the filter bed backwash operation. The results show that the biological treatment gives reduction percentages of 39.3, 48.76 and 67.23%, respectively for the boreholes of Pout Kirène (PK2), Pout Sud (PS5) and Koungheul (KK5).

 

Key words:  Biofilm, continuous test, biological oxidation, iron removal, column, doped water.