Ceramic industry wastewater treatment by rhizofiltration system - application of water hyacinth bioremediation

Abstract

In the present study, water hyacinth was used to treat ceramic wastewater that contains heavy metals such as Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), and Boron (B). A batch analysis (3 Columns) by continuous rhizofiltration system was used to remove heavy metals from ceramic wastewater. The metal removal efficiency was identified by evaluating the translocation of metals in roots, leaves and shoot of the water hyacinth. The heavy metal removal efficiency followed the order Fe > Zn > Cd > Cu > B > Cr during the treatment process, and water hyacinth had luxury consumption of those elements (up to 99.3% removal efficiency). In addition, water hyacinth length, weight, stem and leave width were also determined and showed some increment (up to 0.74cm in Column 2). Similar trend was also observed for the leave and stem, where it increased considerably from 5.61 to 6.01 and 2.37 to 2.91 cm in Column 1, respectively. Water hyacinth weight demonstrated some rise (e.g. 27.96 to 37.1 g in column 1), signifying growth of water hyacinth during the treatment of ceramic wastewater. The results of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses indicated that most of the metals accumulated in the roots of the plants, suggesting that absorption were the main mechanisms in the treatment process. It can be concluded that phytoremediation of wastewater through rhizofiltration process has the ability to trap and filter contaminants such as metals and organic pollutant.