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Recycled tires for wastewater treatment

employing phytotechnologies for individual houses and A large number of used tires are generated annually at
residential areas has become increasingly widespread. enterprises across the country, providing an opportunity
These modern small-scale treatment plants include for their reuse, particularly as a building material for
components such as sand and gravel filters, filtration strengthening drainage canals and constructing facilities
fields, and, where necessary, AGRS. They are adapted of this type.
to provide complete wastewater treatment of small Modern tires are complex structures composed of
volumes of wastewater in the absence of centralized layers reinforced with metal or textile cords and tread.
sewerage networks. Only high-quality and environmentally friendly rubber
The following treatment facilities typically consist compounds are used for the production of car tires,
of three units (Figure 3): The first is a two-section including natural rubber, synthetic rubber, carbon black,
septic tank (zone A); the second includes sludge wells and lubricant. Rubber compounds make up over 80%
(zone B); and the third is the core biological treatment of the total weight of a tire, while the remaining 20%
unit – underground filter trenches (zone C). The number consists of various reinforcing materials.
and length of these trenches are calculated based on the Toxicity tests of tires in wet soil were performed in the
volume and quality of wastewater, topography, and soil laboratory. The data obtained showed that tire samples
properties. If needed, the facility may also include a containing rubber materials and metal cords were not
phytotechnology unit. toxic to microorganisms. Tire waste is classified as
At present, there are several options for such treatment hazard class IV, that is, non-toxic, which supports its
plants, which differ in the design of filter trenches. further secondary use in underground filter trenches.
Grytsenko et al. proposed the use of filter trenches for
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surface wastewater treatment, with the filter layer made 3. Results and discussion
of basalt crumb, where pollutants are adsorbed. The
treated wastewater is then filtered through a sand layer This experiment on wastewater treatment using
into the lower strata. This application is particularly phytoremediation facilities with filtering media (based
suitable for areas where the water supply depends on on used automobile tires and construction materials)
underground storage and where the groundwater level is demonstrated high efficiency in removing various
critically high. In another study, the method of surface pollutants. Specifically, after 6 months of research,
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wastewater treatment was further improved by utilizing the treatment efficiency was as follows: total iron
PET granules and polyurethane foam granules as the removal – 99% (the best result among hydrochemical
filter layer. The application of PET waste packaging indicators); suspended solids, COD, nitrates, and
for treating stormwater and meltwater not only helps to nitrites – 70% removal efficiency; other parameters
reduce the anthropogenic influence on the environment showed varying degrees of treatment, ranging from
but also increases the utilization of plastic waste. 50% to 99%, with an overall disinfection efficiency of
To treat wastewater from small settlements or 99% (Table 2).
individual houses, we propose the use of drainage These results confirm the effectiveness of the
tunnels incorporating secondary materials (used car proposed method, particularly in the removal of organic
tires, basalt crumbs, gravel, etc.). pollutants, biogenic substances, and toxic components.

A C

B

Figure 3. (A-C) Schematic of an autonomous treatment plant for individual houses and residential areas

Volume 22 Issue 2 (2025) 211 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025080051