WATER TREATMENT

The aim of this study is to undertake the design of a water treatment plant adequate in serving a semi-urban area based on a surface water supply system, this will enhance public health by providing safe and portable water to a semi-urban area. The project focuses more on surface water source and the contaminants found in surface water in a semi-urban area. The method used to carry out this project includes; the determination of the population of a semi-urban area, water demand/requirements and characteristics of a surface water source in a semi-urban area. The various design units will be size accordingly to the requirements of a semi-urban area. The result of this work includes complete design of the units in the treatment plant. Adequate design and sizing of the screening chamber, Pre-sedimentation tank, coagulation, flocculation and clarification, filtration and disinfection to contain the need for a semi-urban area. This result helps to improve the knowledge and understanding of the design of a water treatment plant for a surface water source in a semi-urban area

The main goal of this research was to explore the effectiveness of slow pyrolysis of sawdust in generating high-quality biochar with beneficial characteristics for different uses, such as soil improvement and water purification. By adjusting the pyrolysis temperature and duration, the study sought to identify the ideal conditions for producing biochar with improved physicochemical properties. Sawdust, an abundant byproduct of the timber industry, underwent slow pyrolysis in a low-oxygen environment. The process was carried out at various temperatures, ranging from 400°C to 700°C, to evaluate how temperature affects both the yield and characteristics of the resulting biochar. The produced biochar was analyzed through several techniques, such as surface area measurement, pH analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett- Teller (BET) analysis, iodine number assessment, and yield percentage evaluation. The research revealed that slow pyrolysis of sawdust produced high-quality biochar with desirable characteristics. The biochar showed elevated carbon content, a porous structure, and an almost neutral pH, making it well-suited for use in agriculture and water purification. Both laboratory and field experiments confirmed that biochar effectively enhanced soil quality, boosted water retention, and improved nutrient availability. The research also showed that up to 55% of the material could be converted into solid biochar, while the rest was produced as bio-oil and syngas. These results emphasize the sustainable and versatile advantages of utilizing slow pyrolysis of sawdust for biochar production.