Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oyster shell for drinking water filtration compared with granular activated carbon: advantages and limitations

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Deliberate media selection can be conducted to achieve targeted objective in filters. In this study, three biofilters (BFs) packed with calcinated oyster shell (COS), granular activated carbon (GAC), and COS + GAC (Mix) were set up in parallel following a rough filter packed with natural oyster shell to compare the performance for treating micro-polluted source water. Different media showed selective removal effects for different pollutants. GAC outperformed COS in terms of TOC and UV254. COS achieved higher reduction in turbidity than GAC. Due to the removal of total bacteria, the absolute and relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) both decreased much in rough filter treated water (1.16 × 1014 to 1.40 × 1013 copies L−1 and 81.6 to 36.9%, respectively). The highest diverse and rich bacterial community was found in the biofilms on the COS filler, so microbial leakage gave rise to high bacterial content, leading to the highest absolute abundance of ARGs in COS BF effluent (2.11 × 1013 copies L−1). The highest relative abundance of ARGs (41.2%) was found in GAC BF effluent. SourceTracker and biomarker analysis both suggested that treatment process played a more important role in shaping the bacterial community structure in Mix BF effluent than single media BFs, which contributed to the lowest absolute (8.69 × 1012 copies L−1) and relative abundance (25.2%) of ARGs in Mix BF effluent among the three BFs. Our results suggested that mix COS + GAC can not only give full play to their respective advantages for traditional pollutants, but also achieve highest reduction in ARGs.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Asaoka S, Yamamoto T, Kondo S, Hayakawa S (2009) Removal of hydrogen sulfide using crushed oyster shell from pore water to remediate organically enriched coastal marine sediments. Bioresource Technol 100(18):4127–4132

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basu OD, Dhawan S, Black K (2016) Applications of biofiltration in drinking water treatment—a review. J Chem Technol Biot 91(3):585–595

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benner J, Helbling DE, Kohler HP, Wittebol J, Kaiser E, Prasse C, Ternes TA, Albers CN, Aamand J, Horemans B, Springael D, Walravens E, Boon N (2013) Is biological treatment a viable alternative for micropollutant removal in drinking water treatment processes? Water Res 47(16):5955–5976

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bi ZH, Li T, Qi P, Hu C, Xu XR, Sun ZM, Xu G (2022) Contribution of extracellular polymeric substances and microbial community on the safety of drinking water quality: by mean of Cu/activated carbon biofiltration. Chemosphere 286:131686

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bonnard M, Boury B, Parrot I (2020) Key insights, tools, and future prospects on oyster shell end-of-life: a critical analysis of sustainable solutions. Environ Sci Technol 54(1):26–38

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang JJ, Mei J, Jia W, Chen JQ, Li X, Ji BH, Wu HM (2019) Treatment of heavily polluted river water by tidal-operated biofilters with organic/inorganic media: evaluation of performance and bacterial community. Bioresource Technol 279:34–42

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen QL, An XL, Li H, Su JQ, Ma YB, Zhu YG (2016) Long-term field application of sewage sludge increases the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in soil. Environ Int 92–93:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen JF, Liu SNA, Yan J, Wen JJ, Hu YY, Zhang WW (2017) Intensive removal efficiency and mechanisms of carbon and ammonium in municipal wastewater treatment plant tail water by ozone oyster shells fix-bed bioreactor—membrane bioreactor combined system. Ecol Eng 101:75–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng G, Li QH, Su Z, Sheng S, Fu J (2018) Preparation, optimization, and application of sustainable ceramsite substrate from coal fly ash/waterworks sludge/oyster shell for phosphorus immobilization in constructed wetlands. J Clean Prod 175:572–581

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou IJ, Chen CH, Li YH (2014) Using oyster-shell foamed bricks to neutralize the acidity of recycled rainwater. Constr Build Mater 64:480–487

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan LW, Zhang SL, Zhang XH, Zhou H, Lu ZX, Wang SQ (2015) Removal of arsenic from simulation wastewater using nano-iron/oyster shell composites. J Environ Manage 156:109–114

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng Y, Li X, Yu YZ, Qi JY, Jia XQ, Wang JT, Li X (2016) Production of unburned calcium silicon filter material (UCSFM) from oyster shell and its performance investigation in an A/O integrated biological aerated filter reactor (A/O-BAF). Rsc Adv 6(88):85324–85332

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerrity D, Arnold M, Dickenson E, Moser D, Sackett JD, Wert EC (2018) Microbial community characterization of ozone-biofiltration systems in drinking water and potable reuse applications. Water Res 135:207–219

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han Z, An W, Yang M, Zhang Y (2020) Assessing the impact of source water on tap water bacterial communities in 46 drinking water supply systems in China. Water Res 172:115469

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang X, Zheng JL, Liu CX, Liu L, Liu YH, Fan HY (2017) Removal of antibiotics and resistance genes from swine wastewater using vertical flow constructed wetlands: effect of hydraulic flow direction and substrate type. Chem Eng J 308:692–699

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keon MR, McKie MJ, Taylor-Edmonds L, Andrews RC (2021) Evaluation of enzyme activity for monitoring biofiltration performance in drinking water treatment. Water Res 205:117636

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan H, Miao X, Liu M, Ahmad S, Bai X (2020) Behavior of last resort antibiotic resistance genes (mcr-1 and blaNDM-1) in a drinking water supply system and their possible acquisition by the mouse gut flora. Environ Pollut 259:113818

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirisits MJ, Emelko MB, Pinto AJ (2019) Applying biotechnology for drinking water biofiltration: advancing science and practice. Curr Opin Biotechnol 57:197–204

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korotta-Gamage SM, Sathasivan A (2017) A review: potential and challenges of biologically activated carbon to remove natural organic matter in drinking water purification process. Chemosphere 167:120–138

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Q, Yu S, Li L, Liu G, Gu Z, Liu M, Liu Z, Ye Y, Xia Q, Ren L (2017) Microbial communities shaped by treatment processes in a drinking water treatment plant and their contribution and threat to drinking water safety. Front Microbiol 8:2465

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin HR, Hou QY, Luo Y, Hu GR, Yu JC, Yu RL (2022) Reutilization of waste oyster shell as filler for filter for drinking water pretreatment: feasibility and implication. J Environ Manage 315:115142

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Michael I, Rizzo L, McArdell CS, Manaia CM, Merlin C, Schwartz T, Dagot C, Fatta-Kassinos D (2013) Urban wastewater treatment plants as hotspots for the release of antibiotics in the environment: a review. Water Res 47(3):957–995

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pap S, Gaffney PPJ, Bremner B, Sekulic MT, Maletic S, Gibb SW, Taggart MA (2022) Enhanced phosphate removal and potential recovery from wastewater by thermo-chemically calcinated shell adsorbents. Sci Total Environ 814:152794

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto AJ, Xi C, Raskin L (2012) Bacterial community structure in the drinking water microbiome is governed by filtration processes. Environ Sci Technol 46(16):8851–8859

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rui M, Chen HS, Ye YY, Deng HP, Wang H (2020) Effect of flow configuration on Nitrifiers in biological activated carbon filters for potable water production. Environ Sci Technol 54(22):14646–14655

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma D, Taylor-Edmonds L, Andrews RC (2018) Comparative assessment of ceramic media for drinking water biofiltration. Water Res 128:1–9

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spanjers MG (2017) Biologically Active Filtration Media Properties: Practical and Mechanistic Implications. University of Waterloo, Civil and Environmental Engineering

    Google Scholar 

  • Terry LG, Summers RS (2018) Biodegradable organic matter and rapid-rate biofilter performance: a review. Water Res 128:234–245

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tong S, Stocks JL, Rodriguez-Gonzalez LC, Feng CP, Ergas SJ (2017) Effect of oyster shell medium and organic substrate on the performance of a particulate pyrite autotrophic denitrification (PPAD) process. Bioresource Technol 244:296–303

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vignola M, Werner D, Wade MJ, Meynet P, Davenport RJ (2018) Medium shapes the microbial community of water filters with implications for effluent quality. Water Res 129:499–508

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh TR, Weeks J, Livermore DM, Toleman MA (2011) Dissemination of NDM-1 positive bacteria in the New Delhi environment and its implications for human health: an environmental point prevalence study. Lancet Infect Dis 11(5):355–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan K, Lin WF, Zhu S, Zhang SH, Yu X (2019) Biofiltration and disinfection codetermine the bacterial antibiotic resistome in drinking water: a review and meta-analysis. Front Environ Sci Eng 14(1):10

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan K, Guo L, Ye C, Zhu J, Zhang M, Yu X (2021) Accumulation of antibiotic resistance genes in full-scale drinking water biological activated carbon (BAC) filters during backwash cycles. Water Res 190:116744

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu LK, Ouyang WY, Qian YY, Su C, Su JQ, Chen H (2016) High-throughput profiling of antibiotic resistance genes in drinking water treatment plants and distribution systems. Environ Pollut 213:119–126

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu LK, Campos LC, Li JN, Karu K, Ciric L (2021) Removal of antibiotics in sand, GAC, GAC sandwich and anthracite/sand biofiltration systems. Chemosphere 275:130004

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang X-G, Li Y, Kong F, Sun X, Wang S, Cui Y (2022) Effect of ZnFe-LDHs modified oyster shell on the removal of tetracyclines antibiotics and variation of tet genes in vertical flow constructed wetlands. Chem Eng J 431:134093

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • You WJ, Hong MZ, Zhang HF, Wu QP, Zhuang ZY, Yu Y (2016) Functionalized calcium silicate nanofibers with hierarchical structure derived from oyster shells and their application in heavy metal ions removal. Phys Chem Chem Phys 18(23):15564–15573

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng J, Chabi K, Hu Y, Zhang SH, Yu X (2020) Ammonium removal of biological roughing filter for rural drinking water pretreatment. Water Supply 20(7):2768–2778

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SY, Gitungo SW, Axe L, Raczko RF, Dyksen JE (2017) Biologically active filters—an advanced water treatment process for contaminants of emerging concern. Water Res 114:31–41

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Taylor-Edmonds L, Andrews RC (2019) Impact of carbon-based nutrient enhancement on biofiltration performance for drinking water treatment. J Environ Sci 82:124–131

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng J, Chen T, Chen H (2018) Antibiotic resistome promotion in drinking water during biological activated carbon treatment: is it influenced by quorum sensing? Sci Total Environ 612:1–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu YG, Johnson TA, Su JQ, Qiao M, Guo GX, Stedtfeld RD, Hashsham SA, Tiedje JM (2013) Diverse and abundant antibiotic resistance genes in Chinese swine farms. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 110(9):3435–3440

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of Instrumental Analysis Center of Huaqiao University for help.

Funding

This research was supported by the STS Program of Fujian Science and Technology Project (2018T3017).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Huirong Lin, Quanyang Hou, Xiaohui Sun, Gongren Hu & Ruilian Yu

  2. Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Huirong Lin, Quanyang Hou, Gongren Hu & Ruilian Yu

Authors
  1. Huirong Lin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Quanyang Hou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiaohui Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gongren Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ruilian Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Lin: writing; Hou: methodology; Sun: reviewing and editing, Hu: reviewing and editing; Yu: reviewing and editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruilian Yu.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Our research does not involve ethical issues.

Consent to participate

The authors consent to participate.

Consent for publication

The authors consent to publish this paper.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Guilherme Luiz Dotto

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 168 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lin, H., Hou, Q., Sun, X. et al. Oyster shell for drinking water filtration compared with granular activated carbon: advantages and limitations. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 121475–121486 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30781-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30781-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation