Biochar as a promising technique for wastewater treatment

In 2023, two major wastewater sources were studied: the Rahawi Drain, where wastewater is treated as raw wastewater, and the Abu Rawash WWTP, which supplies wastewater from a large urban area within Giza Governorate. The aim of this research was to explore the potential of using biochar as an environmentally friendly option to improve the quality of treated wastewater before discharge into the Rahawi Drain. Biochar was applied at three doses (0.5, 1, and 2 g/L) to determine its effectiveness in removing contaminants such as organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, and microbial contaminants. This was done by monitoring some physical and chemical parameters. Biochar treatment was found to significantly improve water quality, and removal efficiency increased with increasing biochar doses. Biochar was also found to be highly effective in removing microbial contamination such as E. coli and Salmonella Typhi, with removal efficiencies exceeding 99%. Thus, the results demonstrate that biochar represents an effective, low-cost, and available technology option for reducing pollution in the Nile River, specifically the Rosetta branch, by improving the quality of wastewater from the Abu Rawash wastewater treatment plant.