Physicochemical Characterization of Domestic Washing Machine Grey Water and Treatment with Granular Activated Carbon

Authors : Aysel Alkan Uçkun, Şeyma Akkurt, Özgür Özdemir, Şerif Çitil

Pages : 426-434

Doi:10.54365/adyumbd.1792017

View : 38 | Download : 75

Publication Date : 2025-12-24

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In this study, the physicochemical properties of domestic washing machine graywater were determined, and the treatment performance of granular activated carbon (GAC) was evaluated in a laboratory setting. Graywater samples were collected using different washing programs and analyzed for key parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand (COD), surfactants, total phosphate, and total nitrogen. Adsorption experiments conducted at different GAC doses (0.5–4 g/L) and contact times of 30–120 minutes revealed that the optimum conditions were 4 g/L GAC and 120 minutes of contact time. Under these conditions, COD removal was 32% and surfactant removal was 38%. Kinetic analyses showed a high fit to the pseudo-second-order model (R²=0.98), and isotherm studies revealed that the Freundlich model reflects heterogeneous surface properties. In conclusion, the low removal rates obtained with GAC indicate that the current method is inadequate for the treatment of washing machine graywater and that the design and use of more effective new filter materials are needed.
Keywords : Gri su, çamaşır makinesi, fizikokimyasal analiz, granül aktif karbon, adsorpsiyon

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