River Water Treatment in a Filter Filled with Peat and Modeling Particle Capture

Peat has the potential to be an effective filter medium for river water, addressing not only total suspended solids (TSS) but also other contaminants. However, the breakthrough of TSS will determine the filter's operability. In this study, two identical filter columns filled with peat were continuously supplied with river water for approximately 45 hours. Influent and effluent turbidity, conductivity, pH, and TSS concentrations were measured at 2-hour intervals. The TSS removal efficiency was approximately 100% during the initial 16-hour period, after which it gradually decreased. Irrespective of the breakthrough, the conductivity in the effluent consistently decreased. The pH variation also did not show any interruption. The developed particle capture model yielded determination coefficients (R²) of 0.88 and 0.82 for calibration and verification, respectively. However, the model overestimated until 30 hours, after which it fitted well. The model can be used to estimate the peat-filled filter bed thickness for any required influent flow rate. It is concluded that peat is an effective filter medium for TSS and other contaminants in river water. The conventional governing equation for gravity filters must be modified for peat to develop an optimal particle capture model.