Laboratoire d’Environnement et Biologie Aquatique, UFR-Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Université NANGUI ABROGOUA, 02 BP 801 Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire
The current study aimed to examine the performance of some sand media filters supplied in an intermittent manner and which were filled with crushed shale, laterite and granite for the removal of orthophosphates from wastewater. These materials were selected based on their physicochemical properties and their potential for phosphorus removal. For this purpose, a series of sand filters shaped like a ‘’U’’ was carried out for domestic wastewater treatment. This filter system was made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe and contained three compartments. Each compartment was composed of two columns with one of them filled with filtration medium (inlet filter) and the other containing the water (sedimentation zone). The influence of the type of the media and their grain size upon the kinetic of phosphorus removal in this system was investigated during two months. Results showed that for all the media filters the phosphorus removal yield increased when the medium grain size decreased. Concerning the type of filter media, filters filled with laterite (FGC) and shale (FGS) showed the best removal yield of orthophosphates and total phosphorus. However, it can be conclude that filters filled with laterite are more suitable for the phosphorus removal in a long time period.