AMMONIA JNITRATE AND PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL FROM WASTEWATER BY RICE HUSK

摘要

The potential use of biomaterial rice husk for removal of ammonia, nitrate and phosphorus from wastewater samples was investigated in this study. The efficiency of such substances removal was determined in terms of sludge and detention time under both aerated and non aerated conditions. The experimental fixed parameters were pH=7-8, temperature=25°C and mixing speed=100 rpm. Different weights of rice husk were tested for the optimal removal of ammonia from raw wastewater and found to be 5 gm of rice husk per every liter of wastewater. Experimental work was carried out in the laboratory on batch scale using raw wastewater and sludge from Zenien wastewater treatment plant, Gize, Egypt. Number of batches was performed with different combination of sludge, rice husk and aeration. The maximum ammonia, nitrate and phosphorus jemoval efficiency were found at batch containing sludge, rice husk and without aeration. The presence of rice husk with sludge in the same batch increased the ammonia, nitrate and phosphorus removal by about 45%, 70%, 40% over batch containing only sludge.