Crude Oil Contaminated Water Treatment: Development of Water Filter from Locally Sourced Materials

This study aimed at developing a simple and cheap water filter bed using locally sourced materials such as maize cobs, sand, and charcoal. The filter performance was assessed by analyzing water pH, turbidity, TDS, and nitrate content using computer Vernier probes. Total hydrocarbon contents, and heavy metals analysis were also done using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) and Atomic Absorption Spectroscope (AAS), respectively. The obtained results showed a high filter capability of removing heavy metal contaminants in water. A percentage removal of 44%, 25%, 51%, and 88.5% of cadmium, copper, cobalt and zinc, respectively, was recorded. The filter showed a high capability in removing organic contaminants and also reducing turbidity, TDS and nitrate content. It was also able to treat contaminated water from a pH of 5.25 to 7.33 approximately.