Removal of Iron From Ground Water by Filtration Through Coal

A laboratory investigation was made, using Giridih bituminous coal, to evaluate the potential of coal filter in removing iron from ground water and to compare the performance of coal and sand filters in iron removal at different filtration rates under otherwise identical filtration conditions. An attempt was also made to study the nature of the iron removal process by the coal filter and the difference, if any, between the coal and sand filters in the removal process. Performance of the coal filter at varying filtration rates (94, 188, 282, and 376 Ipm/m²) and varying influent iron concentrations (3.0 and 10.2 mg/l) were also studied. A relative evaluation of coal and sand as filter media for removing iron was made in terms of Filter Performance Index (FPI) and retentivity parameters.