Improvement of physicochemical parameters and removal of bacterial enteric pathogens in industrial wastewater by treatment with hybrid constructed wetlands

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of a laboratory-scale Hybrid Constructed Wetland (HCW) planted with different macrophytes, at different hydraulic retention times (HRT), for physicochemical parameters improvement and bacterial enteric pathogens removal, in industrial wastewater. The results revealed that treatment efficiency of HCW planted with Phragmites Australis and Lemna Minor was kept on increasing with the increase in hydraulic retention time. Maximum efficiency of HCW was observed with a 12-day HRT, that is, 82.6, .90.9, 78.3, 92.1, 80.2, 93.5, 99.6, 99.3, and 100% reduction from the zero-time value for, TSS, BOD5, COD TKN, OP, TC, FC, MF, and FS, respectively. Interestingly, we found a strong negative relationship between pH and the majority of microbiological parameters which demonstrates its role in the phytoremediation process, especially in terms of mesophilic flora and faecal coliform removal.