EFFECT OF COPPER AND IRON POLLUTION ON EFFICIENCY OF ACTIVATED SLUDGE SYSTEM TO REMOVE PHOSPHORUS FROM WASTE WATER

ABSTRACT

The presence of heavy metals like copper and iron in wastewater poses significant challenges to effective and efficient phosphorus removal during treatment processes. This study investigates the effect of copper and iron pollution on phosphorus removal efficiency in wastewater treatment. Wastewater samples were collected and contaminated with copper and iron salts, while no solution was added to the other 2 beakers which will served as control. Mean phosphorus concentration ranged from ±0.000 to ±0.018 at 24hours in copper and iron contaminated wastewater, while mean concentration of phosphorus at 48hours ranged from ±0.000 to ±0.000 in copper and iron contaminated wastewater. The removal efficiency after 24 hours and 48 hours in the copper and iron contaminated waste water was 99.83 % and 100.00 % respectively; while in the Control group was 27.76 % and 34.63 % respectively. The findings of this study showed that at reduced concentration that the removal efficiency of activated sludge was effective in removing phosphorous from waste water, therefore signifying that at reduced concentration that Copper and Iron have no effect in the efficient removal of phosphorus in treatment of wastewater. In view of the fact that the results as reported in this study is in contrast to many other studies, there is the need for a longerterm study to establish the findings, and also further studies should be expanded  to involve varying concentrations of Iron and Copper to evaluate possible levels at which inhibitory effects may be observed.