Combined Industrial Wastewater Treatment in Constructed Wetland Systems Containing Emergent Plants and Algae

Master's Thesis from the year 2015 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Physical Geography, Geomorphology, Environmental Studies, , course: Envirmantal Science, language: English, abstract: The objective of this study is to access the effectiveness of integrated biological treatment systems including Internal Circulation bioreactor (IC) and constructed wetlands (CWs) containing either macrophytes or algal biomass for treating industrial wastewater. Anaerobic reactor alone was able to reduce COD (52%), turbidity (89%), EC (24%). Bioreactor was not efficient in meeting NEQs of Pakistan. So, post treatment of Anaerobic bioreactor effluents was carried out in CWs containing macrophytes (Arundo donax and Eichhornia crassipes) reduce COD (89%), turbidity (99%).

Wetlands containing algal biomass were not effective in treating majority of water quality parameters. Inhibition of algal biomass was observed due to physicochemical characteristics of wastewater. The integrated treatment system consisting of IC bioreactor and macrophytes is a more suitable option to treat industrial wastewater.