Potential of phytoremediation using &lt;i&gt;Scirpus validus&lt;/i&gt; for domestic waste open dumping leachate

A.H. Muhammad Irfan,A.A. Liyana,S.O. Sharifah Aisyah,E.R. Aweng

doi:10.4314/jasem.v22i1.13

Abstract

Currently in Malaysia there are only few sanitary landfills available for domestic waste disposal and most of them are located in Johore, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. However, to date, there is no sanitary landfill in the state of Kelantan. All the twelve (12) rubbish disposal facilities in Kelantan are open dumping without any treatment. Leachate water was created by decomposition of organic waste flow out and polluted the surface water bodies, soil, ground water and air (smell). Phytoremediation treatment can overcome the water, groundwater, soil and air pollutions from rubbish disposal by using any significant plant either using trees or grassland. The mechanisms such rhizofiltration, phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytovolatilization and phtodegradation are discussed. This study utilized Scirpus validus , a grass-like plant from Cyperaceae family to treat leachate from open dumping site. It is a fresh water plant that can be found at wetland, shallow water, lake side and wet meadows. The physicochemical parameter is used as an indicator to indicate the effectiveness of Scirpus validus in reducing the concentrations (%) of COD, BOD 5 and AN. This experiment is conducted only for 15 days due to time constrains. The results showed that, 11.20% of removing efficiency for COD, 30.90% for BOD 5 and 8.70% for AN. It was believed the removal rate will increase as the treatment time increases. So, it can be concluded that, Scirpus validus has quite substantial potential to be used for open dumping site leachate treatment especially at tertiary treatment or polishing level. Keywords: Scirpus validus , phytoremediation, leachate, domestic waste, open dumping, effectiveness

Highlights

The study of remediation technology is widely discussed nowadays in order to overcome or treat the contaminated soil, water or even air
The results showed that, 11.20% of removing efficiency for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 30.90% for BOD5 and 8.70% for AN
There are some examples of remediation technologies such as microbial remediation and phytoremediation where microbial remediation is about microbes as the agent while phytoremediation is about the plants that act as the agent (Nikolić and Stevović, 2015).The growing number of anthropogenic activities and industrialization sectors increase pollutants to the environment created various side effects to human health

Summary

Introduction

The study of remediation technology is widely discussed nowadays in order to overcome or treat the contaminated soil, water or even air. All the twelve (12) rubbish disposal facilities in Kelantan are open dumping without any proper treatment (Aweng and Fatt, 2014). This facility posted leachate which will affect environment components namely surface water, ground water, soil and air. Aquatic grass dominantly found in the paddy field throughout the Kelantan State namely Scirpus validus was used as remediation to treat rubbish open dumping leachate. According to New Moon Nursery (2016), Scirpus validus is unbranched perennial sedge that form dense colony from strong rhizomes For the size, this plant is 8’ tall, spongy and triangular green culms. It has been shown that the rhizosphere contains 10-100 times the number of microorganisms per gram than unvegetated soil

Methods

Results

Conclusion