Clay Biochar Composites in Treating Laboratory Wastewater

Abstract

Laboratory wastewater contains hazardous physical and chemical pollutants which results detrimental impact to the human, animals and environment. Horizontal flow constructed wetland with clay - biochar composite, Calicut tile, biochar, clay, wetland plants, 20mm aggregates by natural resources available at nearby places. Laboratory Wastewater collected from the collection tank diluted to desirable pH with pipe borne water was allowed to pass through the treatment system. Slightly higher pH increase observed during passage through the bed due to the filter media of biochar’s alkalinity nature. Higher removal efficiencies of 80% BOD and 89% COD observed in the treatment system may due to the presence of biofilm in final treatment tank and clay: biochar composite as filter media. Gasified cinnamon biochar by-product of syngas production, plays a key role in reducing COD by 86% in the proto type model due to its distinctive physiochemical properties such as higher BET SSA, morphology of SEM analysis, lower H/C & higher O/C molar ratio in CHN analysis. Higher removal efficiency of BOD and COD observed for horizontal flow constructed wetlands constructed by utilizing onsite available materials and clay - biochar composites. The dispersed small laboratories can benefit more from running an economical and ecologically friendly treatment system with locally accessible natural materials.