NITRATE AND PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL FROM MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EFFLUENT USING PHYTOREMEDIATION SITI

Water hyacinth has been used in aquatic systems for wastewater purification in many
years worldwide. The role of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) species in polishing
nitrate and phosphorus concentration from municipal wastewater treatment plant
effluent by phytoremediation method was evaluated. The objective of this project is to
determine the removal efficiency by water hyacinth in polishing nitrate and phosphorus,
as well as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia. Water hyacinth is considered
as the most efficient aquatic plant used in removing vast range of pollutants such as
organic matters, nutrients and heavy metals. Water hyacinth, also referred as
macrophytes, were cultivated in the treatment house in reactor tank of approximately
90(L) x 40(W) x 25(H) in dimension and built with three compartments. Three water
hyacinths were placed in each compartments and water sample in each compartment
were collected in every two days. The plant observation was conducted by weight
measurement, plant uptake and new young shoot development. Water hyacinth
effectively removed 49% of COD, 81% of ammonia, 67% of phosphorus and 92% of
nitrate. It also showed significant growth rate at starting from day 6 with 0.33 shoot/day
and they kept developing up to 0.38 shoot/day at the end of day 24. Thus, from the
studies conducted, it was proved that water hyacinth is capable of polishing the effluent
of municipal wastewater which contains undesirable amount of nitrate and phosphorus
concentration.