On-site domestic wastewater treatment system using shredded waste plastic bottles as biofilter media: Pilot-scale study on effluent standards in Bhutan.

Dorji, U; Dorji, P; Shon, H; Badeti, U; Dorji, C; Wangmo, C; Tijing, L; Kandasamy, J; Vigneswaran, S; Chanan, A; Phuntsho, S

On-site domestic wastewater treatment system using shredded waste plastic bottles as biofilter media: Pilot-scale study on effluent standards in Bhutan.

Dorji, U Dorji, P Shon, H

Badeti, U Dorji, C Wangmo, C Tijing, L

Kandasamy, J

Vigneswaran, S

Chanan, A Phuntsho, S

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Publisher:: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Chemosphere, 2022, 286, (Pt 2), pp. 131729
Issue Date:: 2022-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Dorji, U
dc.contributor.author	Dorji, P
dc.contributor.author	Shon, H https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3777-7169
dc.contributor.author	Badeti, U
dc.contributor.author	Dorji, C
dc.contributor.author	Wangmo, C
dc.contributor.author	Tijing, L https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9398-6355
dc.contributor.author	Kandasamy, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0160-3519
dc.contributor.author	Vigneswaran, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8117-4322
dc.contributor.author	Chanan, A
dc.contributor.author	Phuntsho, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3917-3916
dc.date.accessioned	2022-01-28T02:44:10Z
dc.date.available	2021-07-28
dc.date.available	2022-01-28T02:44:10Z
dc.date.issued	2022-01
dc.identifier.citation	Chemosphere, 2022, 286, (Pt 2), pp. 131729
dc.identifier.issn	0045-6535
dc.identifier.issn	1879-1298
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/153726
dc.description.abstract	In this study, a 1000 L/d capacity one-off on-site wastewater treatment system was operated for over a year as a pilot alternative to the conventional on-site treatment as currently used in urban Bhutan. An up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was used for blackwater treatment (to replace "septic tank followed by an anaerobic biofilter (ABF) (to replace soak pits) for the treatment of a mixture of greywater and UASB effluent. Shredded waste plastic bottles were used as the novel biofilter media in the ABF. During a yearlong operation, the pilot system produced a final treated effluent from ABF with average BOD5 28 mg/L, COD 38 mg/L, TSS 85 mg/L and 5 log units of Escherichia coli. These effluents met three out of four of the national effluent discharge limits of Bhutan, but unsuccessful to meet the Escherichia coli standard over a yearlong operation. Further, process optimisation may enable more significant Escherichia coli removal. An economic analysis indicates that the total unit cost (capital and operating expenditures) of this alternative wastewater treatment system for more than 50 users range between USD 0.27-0.37/person/month comparable to USD 0.29-0.42/person/month for the current predominant on-site system, i.e., "septic tanks". This pilot study, therefore, indicates that this wastewater treatment system using shredded waste plastic biofilter media has high potential to replace the current conventional treatment, i.e., "septic tanks", which are often overloaded with greywater and discharging effluents which does not meet the national standards.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
dc.relation	College of Science and Technology, Bhutan (under Royal University of Bhutan)
dc.relation.ispartof	Chemosphere
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131729
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
dc.subject.mesh	Anaerobiosis
dc.subject.mesh	Bhutan
dc.subject.mesh	Bioreactors
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pilot Projects
dc.subject.mesh	Plastics
dc.subject.mesh	Sewage
dc.subject.mesh	Waste Disposal, Fluid
dc.subject.mesh	Waste Water
dc.subject.mesh	Water Purification
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Plastics
dc.subject.mesh	Pilot Projects
dc.subject.mesh	Bioreactors
dc.subject.mesh	Sewage
dc.subject.mesh	Waste Disposal, Fluid
dc.subject.mesh	Water Purification
dc.subject.mesh	Anaerobiosis
dc.subject.mesh	Bhutan
dc.subject.mesh	Waste Water
dc.title	On-site domestic wastewater treatment system using shredded waste plastic bottles as biofilter media: Pilot-scale study on effluent standards in Bhutan.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	286
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CTWW - Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater Treatment
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2024-01-01T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2022-01-28T02:44:09Z
pubs.issue	Pt 2
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	286
utslib.citation.issue	Pt 2

Abstract:

In this study, a 1000 L/d capacity one-off on-site wastewater treatment system was operated for over a year as a pilot alternative to the conventional on-site treatment as currently used in urban Bhutan. An up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was used for blackwater treatment (to replace "septic tank followed by an anaerobic biofilter (ABF) (to replace soak pits) for the treatment of a mixture of greywater and UASB effluent. Shredded waste plastic bottles were used as the novel biofilter media in the ABF. During a yearlong operation, the pilot system produced a final treated effluent from ABF with average BOD5 28 mg/L, COD 38 mg/L, TSS 85 mg/L and 5 log units of Escherichia coli. These effluents met three out of four of the national effluent discharge limits of Bhutan, but unsuccessful to meet the Escherichia coli standard over a yearlong operation. Further, process optimisation may enable more significant Escherichia coli removal. An economic analysis indicates that the total unit cost (capital and operating expenditures) of this alternative wastewater treatment system for more than 50 users range between USD 0.27-0.37/person/month comparable to USD 0.29-0.42/person/month for the current predominant on-site system, i.e., "septic tanks". This pilot study, therefore, indicates that this wastewater treatment system using shredded waste plastic biofilter media has high potential to replace the current conventional treatment, i.e., "septic tanks", which are often overloaded with greywater and discharging effluents which does not meet the national standards.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/153726