UCU Scholar :: Browsing by Author "Johnson Ruhigira Ngabo"

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Assessing the Use of Wood Chips-Activated Carbon in the Treatment of Wastewater Effluent
(Uganda Christian University, 2025-04-16) Johnson Ruhigira Ngabo
This study evaluates the effectiveness of woodchip-derived activated carbon in the treatment of wastewater effluent, with particular focus on the removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Wastewater samples, collected from Doko Waste stabilization in Mbale, exhibited elevated concentrations of BOD and COD THAT EXCEEDED National Environment Management Authority Carbon was produced from locally available wood chips using a combination of pyrolysis and chemical activation with phosphoric acid to enhance its porosity and surface area. Fixed-bed column experiments were then conducted to assess the influence of bed height on adsorption performance, with columns varying in length from 100 mm to 220 mm. Results indicated that a column bed height of 180mm provided optimal conditions, achieving removal efficiencies of approximately 74.5% for BOD and 72.2% for COD. These reductions significantly lowered the contaminant loads, bringing the treated effluent closer to acceptable discharge limits. The findings demonstrated that woodchips-derived activated carbon is a promising, lower-cost alternative for polishing wastewater effluent, potentially contributing to a more sustainable treatment process that protects both the aquatic ecosystem and public health