Biotreatment of sugar industry effluent using the tank cleaner, Pterygoplichthys pardalis

Appasamy Surendran,Thatheyus Antony Joseph,D Karthiga

doi:10.30574/wjarr.2019.1.3.0015

Abstract

Wastewater can be considered as a precious resource that can be used to fulfill our growing demands of water. In the present study, physico-chemical parameters of the sugar industry effluent were analyzed. The sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys pardalis were exposed to 10, 20, 30 and 40 % concentrations of sugar industry effluent for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days of treatment. The physico-chemical parameters such as pH, total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, total alkalinity, chlorides, total hardness, nitrates, sulphates, total phosphorus, ammonia and BOD were gradually reduced after treatment with P. pardalis for all the exposed concentrations of sugar industry effluent. Students’ ‘t‟ test was used to test the level of significance for the variation between control and experimental sets for all the parameters. Ammonia, pH and chlorides exhibited more significant difference than the other parameters. Results revealed that P. pardalis is highly efficient in the treatment of sugar industry effluent. Biotreatment with P. pardalis may provide an economical and environmentally sustainable treatment method in future.

Highlights

The management and disposal of agro‐industrial residues have recently received attention because of the indiscriminate discharge of many effluents in to the environment
The present study investigates the possibilities of employing the tank cleaner, P. pardalis as an agent in the biotreatment of sugarcane industry effluent by analysing changes in certain physico‐chemical parameters
Physico‐chemical parameters such as total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, pH, BOD, chlorides, total phosphates, nitrates, total hardness, total alkalinity, ammonia and sulphates were analyzed based on Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater [13]

Summary

Introduction

The management and disposal of agro‐industrial residues have recently received attention because of the indiscriminate discharge of many effluents in to the environment. Since each type of industrial effluent has a specific character and impact on the biota, it is essential to assess the contribution of each pollutant. Water contamination is a major problem in the global context as a consequence of industrialization, population growth, urbanization and warfare combined with increased wealth and more extravagant lifestyles [1]. This results in serious public health issues. Anaerobic treatment converts the wastewater organic pollutants into small amount of sludge and large amount of biogas as source of energy [2]. The use of treated wastewater for crop irrigation has been suggested as one of the possible ways out of a looming water crisis [3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion