Treatment of Textile Industry Waste Using Water Hyacinth

Abstract

The efficiency of water hyacinth in the treatment of textile industry waste is reported in the present study. The effect of prior settling of the waste on the efficiency of the treatment was also studied. The hyacinth was grown in 100%, 50% and 25% concentrations of both original and settled wastewater for four days in laboratory tanks. The water hyacinth was found to be highly capable of removing pollutants from the original waste as compared to the settled waste, though the treatment was adequate even with the settled waste. The best treatment was obtained with 100% waste. There was 65.31% reduction in the conductivity in 100% settled waste and 53.86% reduction in 100% original waste. COD reduction in original waste was maximum with 25% concentration (97.35%) on the third day. With settled waste there was 92.97% reduction in COD on the third day. With settled waste the period of 4 days was needed to get a maximum reduction in conductivity, BOD, TS, TDS and TSS. For original waste, maximum reduction in conductivity, COD, BOD and TSS was noted on the third day. Total solids were reducedby 62.42% in 100% waste on the third day. 50% and 25% concentrations showed 41.35% and 47.21% reduction on the fourth day. Suspended solids were left in traces in 50% and 25% concentration on the fourth day. Among nutrients analysed on the fourth day, the overall reduction in potassium was maximum, i.e. 90.45% to 99.39%. Nitrogen, sodium and phosphorus were also reduced to a good extent. The initial and final harvested plant material was analyzed for various nutrients like Ca, Mg, Na, K, N & P. There was accumulation of sodium, potassium and nitrogen in the shoot from both original and settled waste; while the reduction in magnesium and nitrogen content was noted in the roots.