What are the uses of silica sand in water purification? Here’s the Explanation!

Clean and quality water is a basic need for human life. However, natural water is often contaminated by various contaminants that can endanger health. To solve this problem, water purification is an important solution.

WHAT IS SILICA SAND?

Silica sand is a natural material consisting of silicon dioxide (SiO2) crystals. Silica sand is commonly found on beaches, rivers and lakes. This material has unique properties that make it very effective in water purification processes.

PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SILICA SAND

Silica sand has several properties and characteristics that make it ideal for use in water purification. First, silica sand has grains that are porous, which allows water to flow through it.

During the clarification process, silica sand can hold solid particles such as silt, soil, and organic substances dissolved in water. This is due to the porous structure of silica sand which can filter out these particles, thereby improving water quality.

Silica sand is not easily degraded by chemicals that may be present in water that needs to be clarified. This makes it a durable material that is effective at filtering water.

WATER CLEANING PROCESS

Before discussing further the use of silica sand in water purification, it is important to understand why water needs to be clarified and the commonly used clarification methods.

WHY DOES WATER NEED TO BE CLEARED?

Contaminated water can contain various contaminants such as heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, chemicals and solid particles. Consuming or using polluted water can endanger health and cause disease.

Therefore, a water purification process is needed to remove or reduce the concentration of these contaminants so that the water becomes safe for use.

USE OF SILICA SAND IN WATER PURIFICATION
SILICA SAND MEDIA FILTER

These filters generally consist of different layers that utilize silica sand as the main medium. Water flowing through the filter will pass through the silica sand and dissolved particles will be retained in the pores of the sand.

Over time, these particles will accumulate and form a layer known as a “cake” on the surface of the silica sand. This process helps filter out finer particles and improves the quality of the resulting water.

CLEANING MECHANISM WITH SILICA SAND

Silica sand has an effective clarification mechanism. When water flows through the silica sand medium, the solid particles dissolved in the water will stick to the surface of the sand grains. In addition, physical filtering and adsorption mechanisms also occur in the porous structure of silica sand.

Pollutant particles such as soil, silt, and water-soluble organic matter will be retained and bound by silica sand. As a result, the water that flows out of the filter will be clearer and free from harmful particles.

ADVANTAGES OF SILICA SAND AS A MEDIA FILTER
CAPABILITIES OF SILICA SAND FILTERING

Silica sand has excellent filtering ability. With a uniform grain size and precise pore structure, silica sand can filter out solid particles in the desired size range.

This allows silica sand to remove fine particulate matter and contaminants in water with a high degree of efficiency.

SCREENING EFFICIENCY AND CAPACITY

Silica sand has a high filtering efficiency and a large capacity to hold particulate matter.

The good mechanical strength of silica sand allows it to be used in water purification processes for long periods of time without experiencing significant wear and tear.

Thus, silica sand becomes an economical and effective choice for large-scale water filtration.

DURABLE AND EASY TO RENEW

Silica sand is durable and easily renewable. Silica sand media in water filters can last for a long time without the need for frequent replacement.

In addition, when the surface of the silica sand accumulates with pollutant particles, the filter can be renewed through a backwashing process. This process involves flowing water in the opposite direction to wash away the particles trapped in the silica sand.

SILICA SAND IN LARGE-SCALE WATER TREATMENT
USE OF SILICA SAND IN WATER TREATMENT INSTALLATIONS

Silica sand is also used extensively in large-scale water treatment, such as drinking water treatment plants or industrial water treatment.

In this process, silica sand is used as part of a complex filtration system to remove various contaminants from the water. The use of silica sand in this water treatment plant provides consistent and effective results in improving water quality.

APPLICATION OF SILICA SAND IN DRINKING WATER FILTATION

One of the important applications of silica sand is in drinking water filtration. Safe, high-quality drinking water is essential to public health.

By using silica sand as a filter medium, various contaminants such as solid particles, organic matter, and microorganisms can be removed or reduced significantly.

This filtering process helps ensure that the drinking water consumed by the public is safe and free from harmful contaminants.

SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENT
SILICA SAND RISKS AND CONTROL

Although silica sand has many uses in water purification, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with its use.

At high dust levels, silica sand particles can be a health hazard, especially if inhaled into the lungs.

Therefore, control measures such as the use of personal protective equipment and proper regulation of the use of silica sand need to be implemented.

SUSTAINABILITY AND RECYCLING OF SILICA SAND

In the context of sustainability and environmental protection, it is important to consider the responsible management of silica sand.

Silica sand is a limited natural resource, and its mining must be carried out with an eye on sustainable practices.

In addition, measures to recycle used silica sand from water filters also need to be considered to reduce the environmental impact of waste silica sand.

Silica sand has an important role in water purification. In this process, silica sand is used as an effective filter media to remove pollutant particles from water.

The advantages of silica sand as filter media, such as good filterability, efficiency, high filtering capacity, as well as durability and easy renewal, make it an ideal choice in large-scale water treatment.

However, it is important to manage the use of silica sand by paying attention to safety, environmental and sustainability aspects.