PATHOGEN REMOVAL USING MODIFIED WATER TREATMENT RESIDUAL FOR STORMWATER RUNOFF TREATMENT

Abstract

In this study, water treatment residuals (WTR) was surface modified with four types of metals (i.e. Fe, Cu, Pt, and Ag) to assess the potential for indicator pathogens (i.e. E. coli and MS2) removal from stormwater runoff. Fe2O3- and CuO-WTR were found most cost-effective and provided consistent pathogen removal with no significant metal leaching under intermittent-flow condition using synthetic and natural stormwater runoff. The thesis presents a systematic and innovative mode to assess and deduce the mechanism via interaction energy profiles. The study conducted two mechanisms could have contributed to pathogen removal from the stormwater runoff: 1) adsorption, which the capacity was significantly enhanced through WTR surface modification with Fe2O3 and CuO; and 2) antibacterial effect of metal coatings, which could lead to inactivation at solid-liquid interface of WTR. The findings further shortlisted that CuO-WTR as the promising antibacterial media for sustainable stormwater treatment and reuse practices.