Softening of tap water via calcium removal using sphagnum peat moss sorbent by batch and flow-through approaches

ABSTRACT

The Gaza Strip experiences a water crisis of persistent qualitative and quantitative deterioration in regard to groundwater. There is a low recharging rate of the aquifer because of the low seasonal rainfall, the fast expansion of the urban area, and the high seawater intrusion along the narrow coastal Gaza Strip. Thus, the extremely hard water reduces the performance of the reverse osmosis desalination household units and causes membrane fouling. Sphagnum peat for removal of calcium from water was investigated applying batch and flow-through approaches. Fast calcium removal was demonstrated.

KEYWORDS:

• Water hardness
• softening
• sphagnum peat moss

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) for the partial funding of this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.