Treatment of domestic sewage by using solar distillation and plant culture

Abstract

A solar‐still‐greenhouse system was investigated for treatment of sewage, recovery of high quality distillate, and to utilize the nutrients contained in sewage for plant culture. Two small solar‐still‐greenhouses were constructed and operated. The temperature variation in the solar stills and greenhouses, distillate condensation rate and its quality and plant viability in both units were investigated. The results indicate that solar radiation deodorizes sewage and reduces its BOD in the still. Condensates were free of coliform organisms, contained ammonia nitrogen and BOD in small concentrations.

Key words:

• Greenhouse
• Organic gardening
• Plant culture
• Sewage treatment
• Solar distillation
• Solar still‐greenhouse

Notes

Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019.