Microbial evaluation of silver coated/impregnated sand for purification of contaminated water

Abstract

Silver coated sand has been used for the disinfection of contaminated water. Highly contaminated water has been passed through 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 mixtures of silver treated and untreated sands of 10, 35 and 60 mesh sizes and bactericidal efficiency of each mixture has been evaluated. Data in this study suggest that the sand mixtures of 35 mesh remove coliform and faecal coliform more effectively and may be used as a water disinfectant and the silver coated sand may also substitute silver impregnated activated carbon in water treatment equipment.

Keywords:

• Silver coated sand
• bactericidal efficiency
• water disinfection
• contaminated water