Turbidity and color removal from river water with tree xylem as a natural filter

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficiency of xylem-based filters derived from five tree species—Pinus pinea, Populus nigra, Pinus brutia, Tilia tomentosa, and Quercus petraea-in removing turbidity and color from Bartın River water samples. Filtration experiments were conducted under varying pressure conditions (5 psi, 10 psi, and 15 psi) to assess the performance of each xylem filter based on flow rate, turbidity removal, and color reduction. The results highlighted that gymnosperm species, particularly Pinus pinea, exhibited high turbidity (up to 99.36%) and color removal efficiency (up to 95.58%) at lower pressures. Conversely, angiosperm species demonstrated higher flow rates but lower filtration efficiencies. Durability analysis of pit membranes revealed that high pressure could compromise their integrity, slightly reducing efficiency. These findings indicate that xylem-based filtration is a promising, cost-effective, and eco-friendly water purification method suitable for areas lacking advanced water treatment systems. Further optimization of pressure conditions and enhanced pit membrane durability are recommended to maximize efficiency and longevity.

Keywords

• Xylem filtration
• Natural water purification
• Sustainable water treatment
• Eco-friendly filtration
• Wood-Based filtration
• Plant xylem

Doğal bir filtre olarak ağaç ksilemi ile nehir suyundan bulanıklık ve renk giderimi

Öz

Bu çalışma, beş farklı ağaç türünden (Pinus pinea, Populus nigra, Pinus brutia, Tilia tomentosa ve Quercus petraea) elde edilen ksilem bazlı filtrelerin Bartın Nehri su örneklerinden bulanıklık ve renk giderimindeki etkinliğini değerlendirmektedir. Her bir ksilem filtresinin akış hızı, bulanıklık ve renk giderimi açısından performansını değerlendirmek için farklı basınç koşullarında (5 psi, 10 psi ve 15 psi) filtrasyon deneyleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Sonuçlar, özellikle Pinus pinea olmak üzere gymnosperm türlerinin düşük basınçlarda bile yüksek bulanıklık (%99.36'ya kadar) ve renk giderim verimliliği (%95.58'e kadar) gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur. Buna karşılık, angiosperm türleri daha yüksek akış hızları sergilemiş ancak daha düşük filtrasyon verimliliği göstermiştir. Pit membranlarının dayanıklılık analizi, yüksek basıncın zarların bütünlüğünü zayıflatabileceğini ve bunun da verimliliği bir miktar düşürebileceğini göstermiştir. Bu bulgular, ksilem bazlı filtrasyonun, gelişmiş su arıtma sistemlerine erişimi olmayan bölgeler için umut verici, düşük maliyetli ve çevre dostu bir su arıtma yöntemi olduğunu göstermektedir. Etkinliği ve dayanıklılığı en üst düzeye çıkarmak için basınç koşullarının daha fazla optimize edilmesi ve pit membran dayanıklılığının artırılması önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ksilem filtrasyon
• Doğal su arıtma
• Sürdürülebilir su arıtma
• Çevre dostu filtrasyon
• Ahşap bazli filtrasyon
• Bitki ksilemi

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