Sorption technique for treating brackish groundwater in Jaffna Peninsula.

Abstract

The Jaffna Peninsula is situated in the northern extreme of Sri Lanka and it approximately covers an area of 1,023 square kilometers (km2). Presently sea water intrusion to groundwater aquifers is of major challenge in Jaffna peninsula and the salinity intrusion led to elevated level of total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity (EC) in the groundwater.It is apparent that the high energy intensive membrane processes are commonly applied to treat brackish groundwater. Unfortunately, this is a selective process according to the pore size of membrane. The most reasonable perception for the removal of sodium chloride in the drinking water system based on the sorption water treatment. The foremost purpose of the present studie is in the direction of using clay for treating brackish groundwater using sorption techniques. In this study, clay which contain naturally available Montmorillonite was collected from Murunkan area in Mannar. The collected clay samples were experienced through characterizations method including Linear shrinkage test, Particle size analysis (PSA), X-Ray Fluorescent (XRF) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), etc.Further, other analytical methods such as Differential thermal analysis (DTA), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Zeta potential will be carried out to characterize the clay sample. And also, the collected brackish ground water sample, at Point Pedro in Jaffna, are going to be characterize the water quality parameter such as concentration of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, fluoride and pH. Consequently, the sorption treatment will be carried using different treatment techniques in the batch treatment and column treatment processes.