Optical and Physical analyses of water Turbidity for crushed glass and ceramic wastes as a filtration medium in drinking water plants

Filtration is one of the important operations carried out to produce drinking water. Sand filtration is the conventional method for drinking water filtration. This work aims at investigating the replacement of sand with crushed glass or ceramics and utilizing such wastes to reduce the drain of non-renewable natural resources. Samples of crushed glass and ceramics were washed, sieved to the nominal size. Filtration columns were filled with crushed glass or ceramics or sand at different height (30, 45 and 60 cm) and the turbidity of feeding water after coagulation process (2.9, 4.8 and 6.5 NTU) at a flow rate (4, 6 and 8 m³/m²/h). Filtration process is running and filtrated water is collected and analysed the turbidity and pH. Results showed that all samples of feeding raw water turbidity are reduced after filtration using crushed glass, crushed ceramics and sand media. Turbidities values of filtrated water using crushed glass as a filtration media was recorded values ranged from (0.51-1.88 NTU) and the filter containing crushed ceramics produced effluent turbidities ranged from (0.69-2.11 NTU) and the filter containing sand produced effluent turbidities ranged from (0.48-1.86 NTU). Results of pH of filtrated water using crushed glass media and sand media was recorded the same values before and after filtration and when crushed ceramics was used as a filtration media with entrance feeding raw water of pH 7.38 the filtrated water was recorded pH ranged from (7.42-7.61). From the results it can be conclude that crushed glass media and ceramics. The media has the ability to remove turbidity and provide high quality wastewater that complies with international specifications (less than 1 NTU). Filters containing grinded glass produce the same turbidity and pH as those obtained with sand filters.