Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Industrial wastewater treatment in internal circulation bioreactor followed by wetlands containing emergent plants and algae

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wastewater treatment based on ecological principles is a low cost and highly desirable solution for the developing countries like Pakistan. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of biological treatment systems including Internal Circulation (IC) anaerobic bioreactor and constructed wetlands (CWs) containing macrophytes and mixed algal cultures for industrial wastewater treatment. The IC bioreactor reduced COD (52%), turbidity (89%), EC (24%) of the industrial wastewater. However, the effluents of IC bioreactor did not comply with National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of Pakistan. Post-treatment of IC bioreactor effluents was accomplished in CW containing macrophytes (Arundo donax and Eichhornia crassipes) and mixed algal culture. The CWs planted with macrophytes lowered the concentrations of COD (89%) and turbidity (99%). CWs with algal biomass were not effective in further polishing the effluent. Inhibition of algal biomass growth was observed due to physicochemical characteristics of wastewater. The integrated treatment system consisting of IC bioreactor and macrophytes was found more suitable option for industrial wastewater treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdelgadir A, Chen X, Liu J, Xie X, Zhang J, Zhang K, Liu N (2014) Characteristics, process parameters, and inner components of anaerobic bioreactors. BioMed Res Int 2014:841573

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • American Public Health Association Inc. (APHA) (2005) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 21st ed., APHA, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayaz SC, Aktas O, Findik N, Akc¸ L, Kinaci C (2012) Effect of recirculation on nitrogen removal in a hybrid constructed wetland system. Ecol Eng 40:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker BJ, Sheik CS, Taylor CA, Jain S, Bhasi A, Cavalcoli JD, Dick GJ (2013) Community transcriptomic assembly reveals microbes that contribute to deep-sea carbon and nitrogen cycling. ISME J 7(10):1962–1973

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dixit A, Tirpude AJ, Mungray AK, Chakraborty M (2011) Degradation of 2, 4 DCP by sequential biological–advanced oxidation process using UASB and UV/TiO2/H2O2. Desalination 272(1):265–269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faulwetter JL, Gagnon V, Sundberg C (2009) Microbial processes influencing performance of treatment wetlands: a review. Ecol Eng 35(60):987–1004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haydar S, Haider H, Nadeem O, Hussain G, Zahra S (2015) Proposed model for wastewater treatment in Lahore using constructed wetlands. J Fac Eng Technol 22(1):9–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemen S (2011) Metal hyperaccumulation in plants: a review focusing on phytoremediation technology. J Environ Sci Technol 4(2):118–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hench KR, Bissonnette GK, Sexstone AJ, Coleman JG, Garbutt K, Skousen JG (2003) Fate of physical, chemical, and microbial contaminants in domestic wastewater following treatment by small constructed wetlands. Water Res 37:921–927

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer U (2010) Metal hyperaccumulation in plants. Annu Rev Plant Biol 61:517–534

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmood Q, Pervez A, Zeb BS, Zaffar H, Yaqoob H, Waseem M, Afsheen S (2013) Natural treatment systems as sustainable ecotechnologies for the developing countries. BioMed Res Int 2013:796373

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Priya ES, Selvan PS (2014) Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)–an efficient and economic adsorbent for textile effluent treatment–a review. Arab J Chem 10:S3548–S3558

    Google Scholar 

  • Roongtanakiat N, Tangruangkiat S, Meesat R (2007) Utilization of vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) for removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewaters. Sci Asia 33:397–403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sial RA, Chaudhary MF, Abbas ST, Latif MI, Khan AG (2006) Quality of effluents from Hattar Industrial Estate. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 7:974–980

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song XY, Hu XJ, Ji PH, Li YS, Chi GY, Song YF (2012) Phytoremediation of cadmium-contaminated farmland soil by the hyper accumulator Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 88(4):623–626

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vohla C, Poldvere E, Noorvee A, Kuusemets V, MANDER Ü (2005) Alternative filter media for phosphorous removal in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland. J Environ Sci Health 40(6–7):1251–1264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vymazal J (2014) Constructed wetlands for treatment of industrial Vymazal wastewaters: a review. Ecol Eng 73:724–751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu S, Kuschk P, Wiessner A, Müller J, Saad RA, Dong R (2013) Sulphur transformations in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment: a review. Ecol Eng 52:278–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu C, Peng X, Yan H, Li X, Zhou, & Yan Z, T (2015) Phytoremediation ability of Solanumnigrum L. to Cd-contaminated soils with high levels of Cu, Zn, and Pb. Water Air Soil Pollut Ion 226:157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan through their Grant Number 2122.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22060, Pakistan

    Faiza Gulzar, Qaisar Mahmood, Zulfiqar Ahmad Bhatti, Bibi Saima Zeb, Shahida Shaheen & Tahir Hayat

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari, 61100, Pakistan

    Naeem Shahid

  3. Hazara Agricultural Research Station, Abbottabad, Pakistan

    Tahseen Zeb

Authors
  1. Faiza Gulzar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qaisar Mahmood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zulfiqar Ahmad Bhatti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bibi Saima Zeb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shahida Shaheen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tahir Hayat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Naeem Shahid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Tahseen Zeb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qaisar Mahmood.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gulzar, F., Mahmood, Q., Bhatti, Z.A. et al. Industrial wastewater treatment in internal circulation bioreactor followed by wetlands containing emergent plants and algae. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 34, 119 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-018-2496-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-018-2496-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation