Evaluation of Luffa cylindrica fibres in a biomass packed bed for the treatment of fish pond effluent before environmental release

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Luffa cylindrica fibres in a packed bed for the treatment of fish pond effluent before releasing into the environment. The fibres were modified by mercerisation with 0.5 M NaOH solution. Both modified and unmodified fibres were characterised using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Parameters measured were the pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). It was observed from the study that a biomass packed bed of modified and unmodified Luffa cylindrica fibres was unsuitable in remediating the DO, TDS and COD of fish pond effluents. However, the material was suitable in remediating the pH, TSS, BOD and colour of the fish pond effluents. The process reduced the colour from 9.83 to 7.12 TCU for the modified fibres and 3.41 TCU for the unmodified fibres. TSS was reduced from 2.92 to 2.8 mg/l for the modified fibres and 2.61 mg/l for the unmodified fibres. BOD was reduced from 3.5 to 0.6 mg/l for the modified fibres and 1.4 mg/l for the unmodified fibres.