Low-cost filters from marble and brick waste for urban wastewater treatment

Title : Low-cost filters from marble and brick waste for urban wastewater treatment

Abstract:

This study evaluates, at laboratory scale, the purification and decontamination performance of secondary wastewater effluent using low-cost filtration materials—sand, red brick, and marble waste—as sustainable alternatives for decentralized treatment systems. The results highlight the strong potential of red brick media, which achieved removal efficiencies of 86.58% for COD, 86.59% for BOD, 64% for orthophosphate, 84.6% for NH4-N, 99.11% for TSS, 97.31% for fecal coliforms, 99.51% for total coliforms, and 93% for Escherichia coli. Marble waste and red brick filters also showed effective removal of organic matter and nitrogen, highlighting their potential for treating nutrient-enriched effluents. Microbial indicators were substantially reduced across all systems, improving the microbiological safety of the treated water. The effluents obtained met the quality requirements for agricultural irrigation, reinforcing the principles of circular economy and water reuse. These outcomes are particularly noteworthy given the short hydraulic retention time (45 minutes) applied. Overall, this work demonstrates a sustainable, low-cost treatment option based on industrial by-products, contributing to environmental protection and the responsible management of natural resources.

Keywords: Treatment, Decontamination, Wastewater, Low-cost, filter, Red brick, Marble

Biography:

Mahmoud Bali is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Common Service Unit at the Higher Institute of Water Sciences and Techniques of the University of Gabès, Tunisia. In 2012, He received his Doctorate degree in Geological Sciences from the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University El Manar. In 2018, He earned the Habilitation degree. His research interests include water and wastewater treatment, geochemistry, and environmental sciences. He designed an ecological wastewater treatment plant based on filters planted with reeds. This is the first plant using this treatment technique nationally. In 2018, It earned the ISESCO prize for the best environmental project. Bali has four patents and published several research articles in many indexed scientific journals. In addition, he has supervised several graduated students