Treatment of textile effluent using sub surface flow constructed wetlands

Vertical sub surface flow constructed wetland systems for waste water treatment is effective, low cost and a sustainable alternative for conventional waste water treatment technology. The removal of pollutants like BOD, COD and pH in these systems depends on physical, chemical and biological processes that naturally occur in wetlands and areas associated with vegetation, sediment and their microbial communities. In the current work it has been intended to treat textile effluents using sub surface flow constructed wetlands. The experimental setup was constructed using an acrylic tube. Adsorbents like eggshells, gravels, wood husk and activated charcoal were used for the adsorption of pollutants and were filled in the acrylic tube. Escherichia Coli was used for the digestion of organic matters and the plant species – Canna Indica was grown on the surface of the constructed wetland. The BOD and COD removal efficiencies were greater than 40%.