Comparative study of soils and other adsorbents for decolorizing sewage and livestock wastewater

Figures & data

Table 1 Soil classification, pH, particle size distribution, total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), effective cation exchange capacity (eCEC) of Andisol, sandy soil and red soil used in the experiment

Soil Classification	Andisol^† Andisol	Sandy soil^‡ Inceptisol	Red soil^§ Ultisol
pH (H2O)	5.5	5.9	5.2
Particle size distribution (%)
Course sand (2–0.2 mm)	53.9	74.9	16.3
Fine sand (−0.02 mm)	19	18.1	19.3
Silt (−0.002 mm)	16.4	1.9	25.3
Clay (< 0.002 mm)	10.7	5.1	39.1
TC (%)	6.61	ND	2.83
TN (%)	0.46	ND	0.31
eCEC^¶ (cmolc kg^−1)	4.39	6.1	16.39
^†Andisol was collected from top surface soil of Mount Sanbe, Shimane Prefecture.
^‡Sandy soil was collected from sub surface mountain soil of Inbe, Shimane Prefecture.
^§Red soil was collected from sub surface mountain soil of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture.
^¶eCEC is the sum of exchangeble base (Ca, Mg, Na, K) and exchangeble acidity. ND, not detected.

Table 2 pH value, original source, total surface area of micropores (A1), total outside surface area of micropores (A2), total surface area of mesopores (Ap), total volume of micropores (Vp) and mesopores (Vp), peak of the diameter of micropore distribution (Dp) and peak of the radius of mesopore distribution (Rp) of some of the activated carbon and charcoal used in the experiment

Adsorbents	pH	Source	Micropores				Mesopores
			A1 (m^2 g^−1)	A2 (m^2 g^−1)	Vp (cm^3 g^−1)	Dp (nm)	Ap (m^2 g^-−1)	Vp (mm^3 g^−1)	Rp (nm)
Shirasagi M	5.5–7.5	Wood	1237.00	123.85	0.46	0.63	272.48	325.84	0.95
MD5	5.5–7.5	Hard coal	1020.10	67.93	0.41	0.78	214.87	223.3	0.95
E-200	5.5–7.5	Coconut shell	1237.50	21.54	0.44	0.63	71.10	71.407	0.95
F-17W	9.7	Wood	1227.50	84.34	0.48	0.63	259.36	277.08	0.95
H-10	9.4	Hard coal	1074.10	25.41	0.49	0.78	269.67	199.09	0.95
HJA	9.8	Hard coal	1168.10	34.64	0.45	0.78	121.76	149.84	0.95
Charcoal	ND	Wood	324.93	7.42	0.13	0.78	33.93	33.844	0.95
ND, not detected.

Table 3 Names, composition material, mixing percentage and bulk density of the columns in the recovery experiment

Column name	Composition material	Mixing percentage	Bulk density (g cm^−3)
Andi	Andisol		0.90
Andi+Char	Andisol + Charcoal	90% + 10	0.84
Zeolite	Zeolite		1.00
San+Shira-M	Sandy soil + Shirasagi M	90% + 10	1.20
Red+Shira-M	Red soil + Shirasagi M	90% + 10	0.93
Andi+Shira-M	Andisol + Shirasagi M	90% + 10	0.84
Andi+MD5	Andisol + MD5	90% + 10	0.84

Figure 1  Experimental process for the recovery experiment. (a) Process for 7-day and 14-day incubation with saturation and (b) process for 3-day incubation without saturation.

Table 4 Names, composition material, mixing percentage and bulk density of the columns in the continuous column experiment

Column name	Composition material	Mixing percentage	Bulk density (g cm^−1)
Andi	Andisol		0.90
AC15	Andisol + Shirasagi M	85% + 15	0.81
AC30	Andisol + Shirasagi M	70% + 30	0.72
Char15	Andisol + Charcoal	85% + 15	0.81
Char30	Andisol + Charcoal	70% + 30	0.72
Andi+HDTMA	Andisol + hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium		0.90
Zeo+HDTMA	Zeolite + hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium		1.00
AC30′	Andisol + Shirasagi M	70% + 30	0.72

Table 5 Experimental period, time, applied wastewater, hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and aeration conditions during the continuous column experiment period

Period	Time	Livestock wastewater	HLR (mL column^−1 day^−1)	Aeration
1	22–28 June 2005	Fivefold diluted	100	No
2	1–9 July 2005	Fivefold diluted	50	No
3	12 July−22 August 2005	20-fold diluted	50	No
4	21 September−4 October 2005	20-fold diluted	50	Yes^†
^†Aeration was applied to Column Char30 and Char15 at a rate of 1000 mL min^−1 during Period 4.

Figure 2  Effect of the amount of adsorbent on the decolorization rates of sewage plant effluent. (a) Decolorization rates by soil and (b) decolorization rates by activated carbon and charcoal.

Figure 3  The effect of the amount of adsorbent on the decolorization rate of livestock wastewater diluted by different amounts. (a) Decolorization rates by Andisol and zeolite for fivefold, 20-fold and 50-fold diluted wastewater, (b) decolorization rates by activated carbons (ACs) and charcoal for 5-fold diluted wastewater, (c) decolorization rates by ACs and charcoal for 20-fold diluted wastewater and (d) decolorization rates by ACs and charcoal for 50-fold diluted wastewater. Andi, andisol; zeo, zeolite.

Figure 4  Effect of incubation time on the recovery rates of Andisol-based and zeolite-based systems during the recovery experimental period. (a) Decolorization rates by andisol (Andi), andisol plus charcoal (Andi+Char) and Zeolite, (b) recovery rates by Andi, Andi+Char and Zeolite, (c) decolorization rates by sandy soil plus Shirasagi M (San+Shira-M), red soil plus Shirasagi M (Red+Shira-M), andisol plus Shirasagi M (Andi+Shira-M) and Andisol+MD5 and (d) recovery rates by San+Shira-M, Red+Shira-M, Andi+Shira-M and Andisol+MD5.

Figure 5  Effect of colored substance concentration, hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and aeration on the decolorization rates of Andisol-based and zeolite-based systems during the continuous column experiment period. Column AC30′ was at double the HLR during Period 1 and 2. AC, activated carbon; Andi, andisol; Char, charcoal; HDTMA, hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium; Zeo, zeolite.