Experimental Study of Phytoremediation Method for Wastewater Treatment

Phytoremediation is an effective method for wastewater treatment and is gaining importance worldwide. It helps remove, transfer, stabilize, and destroy contaminants in the soil, waste, and groundwater. Laboratory-based experiments are reported in which several plant species are considered to have potential in wastewater treatment. Species like Dracaena sanderiana, Eichhornia crassipes (Water hyacinth), and Colocasia esculenta are used to treat wastewater. The treatment efficiency is assessed by reducing COD, BOD, TN (Total nitrogen), Nitrate, Phosphorus, and Ammonium. These experiments are carried out to confirm the role of hydrophilic plants in treating polluted water. Dracaena sanderiana is used to treat livestock wastewater and leachate landfill; Eichhornia crassipes is used to treat livestock wastewater. The bio-remedial process involving Colocasia esculenta is used to treat wastewater from tapioca starch and brewery industries. The efficiency of the pollutant treatment process varies from 40 to 90%. The experiments are evaluated by monitoring the evolution of substances over time and comparing the change in pollutant concentration between the control sample and the sample using plants for treatment. This study highlights the load-bearing capacity of these plants for wastewater pollution treatment and absorption. Such treatment is suitable for launching an environmentally friendly biological applications system to treat wastewater pollution.