Speaker
Description
This study investigates microbial formation and treatment performance in a coco-peat supplemented down-flow-up-flow sand filter system for greywater treatment aimed at agricultural reuse. Greywater, containing surfactants, organic pollutants, and pathogens, presents environmental and health risks if untreated. Sand filtration enhanced with coco-peat offers a sustainable solution by promoting microbial communities and adsorption capacity, improving organic pollutant degradation. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed significant microbial colonization and biofilm formation over 11 weeks, particularly in coco-peat and sand layers, with higher microbial density in the down-flow system. Colony forming units (CFU) peaked in coco-peat (1.30 × 10⁶ CFU/mL). Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus spp. and Streptomyces spp. dominated, contributing to organic degradation under aerobic and facultative anaerobic conditions. These findings demonstrate that coco-peat enhances biofilm development and filtration efficiency, highlighting its potential as a low-cost, eco-friendly solution for decentralized greywater treatment.
