Study on the performance of vertical flow constructed wetland microcosm with Canna sps. for treatment of high chromium-containing wastewater

Abstract

Chromium (Cr (VI)) pollution has plagued the environment due to chromite mining and various industrial actions. Constructed wetlands (CW) have emerged as a potential wastewater management technique that utilizes physical, chemical, and biological processes. The present study investigates the use of vertical flow-constructed wetlands (CW) using manure-rich garden soil and sand as substrates in planted CW (CW–P) and unplanted CW (CW-UP) to remove Cr (VI) from simulated wastewater. The experiment was performed in two phases, i.e., Phase I and II, in the same system. In Phase I, initial Cr (VI) concentrations were varied between 5 and 200 mg/l at a fixed hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 48 h, while in Phase II, the effect of HRT (24 h, 48 h, and 96 h) was studied at a fixed Cr (VI) concentration of 200 mg/L in the influent. At 24 h, HRT removal efficiencies were 90.20% for CW-P and 86.41% for CW-UP. However, at 96 h of HRT, the system showed nearly the same removal efficiency. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion X-Ray spectroscopy analysis suggested the conversion of Cr (VI) to Cr (III) in soil precipitate and the translocation of Cr (VI) in plant tissues (Canna sps.). Moreover, microbial diversity profiling indicated that microbial diversity involved in pollutant removal differed in both systems. The phytotoxicity test clearly showed the decrease in toxicity level in the treated effluent, concluding the reusability of treated water. This exploratory study suggested that the CW can potentially remove a higher concentration of hexavalent chromium at longer HRT.