Phytoremediation plants and organic matter reduction in wastewater from the Supe animal feedlot: pilot scale analysis

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of phytoremediation plants on reducing organic matter in wastewater from the Supe municipal wastewater treatment plant at a pilot scale. Methodology: The reduction of biological oxygen demand (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was evaluated and compared with the maximum allowable values (MAV) allowed by Peruvian regulations for wastewater. The treatments evaluated were T1: Nasturtium officinale, T2: Eichhornia crassipes and T3: Thypa latifolia. Wastewater was collected at the discharge point during the processing period, and then poured into 15-liter plastic containers, where the phytoremediation plants were introduced for 14 days. Samples were taken at the beginning and end of the treatment. Data processing was performed using variance analysis and Tukey's test. Results: Nasturtium officinale reduced COD by 48.1% and BOD5 by 84%, Eichhornia crassipes reduced COD by 64.9% and BOD5 by 89.2%, and Thypa latifolia reduced COD by 70% and BOD5 by 89.1%. Conclusions: The phytoremediation plants Thypa latifolia, Eichhornia crassipes and Nasturtium officinale are only efficient in reducing BOD5 values below the AMV of wastewater from the Supe municipal slaughterhouse.