Removal of Escherichia Coli Using Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field in Riverbank Filtration

Abstract

An increase of pathogenic bacteria (E. coli) in river water is a concern as it is the main precursor to health hazard disinfection in conventional drinking water treatment systems. Riverbank filtration (RBF) is a non-chemical techniques and natural treatments that efficient in reducing or removing the contaminants in the water. Therefore, this study aimed to remove Escherichia coli (E. coli), and reduce the concentration with low-frequency electromagnetic fields (LF-EMF) as a component of the non-ionising radiations in RBF. This research design and construct a LF-EMF device on horizontal coiled columns that were capable of producing uniform magnetic fields in the frequency range of 50 Hz. A magnetic field density was varied at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mT. The diameter of column was 50 mm, which underwent 6 hours of LF-EMF exposure at 50 mL/min of water flowrates. The maximum removal efficiency of E. coli in was 100% at 6, 8, and 10 mT of magnetic field exposure. These results indicated that the E. coli in the sample of water that was exposed to the LF-EMF was statistically significantly decreased. The magnetic intensity of the LF-EMF changed the characteristic responses for E. coli bacteria.

Determine the Impact of Bacterial Contents on the Quality of Tap Water in Hawija District Desalination Station.

“…The presence of E. coli in water sources gives evidence for the presence of other types of intestinal pathogens in the water, such as Salmonella and Shigella. These pathogens that cause a variety of Intestinal infections that affect the digestive system, such as diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis [25].…”