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Waste Water Treatment using Water Hyacinth

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 32ndIndian Engineering Congress, The Institution of Engineers (India)
Chennai, 2017
Theme: Innovation in Engineering: Competitive Strategy Perspective

Waste Water Treatment using Water Hyacinth

Rajendra B. Magar1, Afroz N. Khan2, Abdulrazzak Honnutagi3

1
Professor and Head, Civil Engineering Department, Kalsekar Technical Campus, School of Engineering and Technology,
New Panvel, Maharashtra, India. rajendramagar69@gmail.com)
2
Lecturer, Civil Engineering Department, Kalsekar Technical Campus, School of Engineering and Technology, New
Panvel, Maharashtra, India. afroz.nk@gmail.com
3
Director, Kalsekar Technical Campus, School of Engineering and Technology, New Panvel, Maharashtra, India.
director.aiktc@gmail.com
Abstract - The roots of Water hyacinths (WH) naturally stolons, which eventually form daughter plants. It also
absorb pollutants including lead, mercury, and strontium- produces large quantities of seeds, and these are viable up
90, as well as some organic compounds which are to thirty years. The common water Hyacinth
carcinogenic and have concentrations of approximately (Eichhorniacrassipes) is vigorous growers known to
10,000 times that is present as in generically found water. double its population in two weeks. The plant is
WH can be cultivated for waste water treatment and it can
extremely tolerant and has a high capacity for the uptake
be used to aid the process of water purification either for
industrial waste water or sewer water, in addition to of heavy metals, including Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb and Hg,
available techniques. The root structures of water hyacinth which could make it suitable for the bio-cleaning of
provide a suitable environment for aerobic bacteria to industrial wastewater. In addition to heavy metals,
remove various impurities present in water. This study Eichhorniacrassipes can also remove other toxins, such as
attempts to evaluate the effect of WH in two different types cyanide, which is environmentally beneficial in areas that
of sewer or drainage line, one from water closet and another have endured gold mining operations. Water hyacinth
from bath or shower room. Further, the reading for various removes arsenic from arsenic contaminated drinking
parameters like Potential of hydrogen(pH), Turbidity, water. It may be a useful tool in removing arsenic from
Chemical oxygen demand (COD), chloride and color has
tube well water in Bangladesh.
been periodically taken every 24 hrs for 5 days. The effect of
WH has resulted in significant decrease in turbidity and due The conventional treatment system like activated sludge
to which the removal of flocs and reduction in organic process and trickling filters require energy input for
matters in water have been observed. The primary purpose treatment of waste water. Moreover, in rural areas it is
of this study is to make use of the water hyacinth plant for very difficult to practice such treatment process due to
the purification of the industrial waste water and its economic and space concern. Also skilled labors are
treatment. required to operate such treatment plants. Hence we need
to find economical and efficient substitute for such
Keywords - hyacinth plant; aquatic plants; water treatment plants which should be eco-friendly. Water
purification hyacinth is a type of aquatic floating plant systems which
do not require any energy consumption. It can be adopted
in rural areas where conventional treatment methods
1.0 INTRODUCTION cannot be used due to economic and space concern. It is
Conventional treatment methods such as trickling an eco-friendly type of system and hence has greater
filter, activated sludge process etc. are used in order to scope in nearby future and can be proved as a beneficial
treat sewage. Thus energy, cost, manpower is consumed substitute for conventional treatment method. The
in a large amount. Just as non-conventional sources are objective of the study is to measure the growth rate and
now necessary over conventional sources for the mode of Evapotranspiration of water hyacinth test its efficiency
energy, eco-friendlier and energy saving ways to treat parameters like Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
sewage is the need of time and should be put to use. The removal, total solids (TS) removal and compare it with
natural ways are extremely cost saving. Water hyacinth is waste stabilization pond.
a free-floating perennial aquatic plant native to tropical
and sub-tropical South America. With broad, thick, 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
glossy, ovate leaves, water hyacinth may rise above the
surface of the water as much as 1 meter in height. The Phytoremediation is one of the biological wastewater
leaves are 10–20 cm across, and float above the water treatment methods [1], and is the concept of using plants-
surface. They have long, spongy and bulbous stalks. The based systems and microbiological processes to eliminate
feathery, freely hanging roots are purple-black. An erect contaminants in nature. The remediation techniques
stalk supports a single spike of 8-15 conspicuously utilize specific planting arrangements, constructed
attractive flowers, mostly lavender to pink in color with wetlands (CW), floating-plant systems and numerous
six petals. One of the fastest growing plants known, water other configurations [2]. The removal of wastewater
hyacinth reproduces primarily by way of runners or constituents is achieved by different mechanisms like
sedimentation, filtration, chemical precipitation, used to describe different degrees of treatment, in order of
adsorption, microbial interactions, and uptake of increasing treatment level, are preliminary, primary,
vegetation [3], among which, the most effective secondary, and tertiary and/or advanced wastewater
technology is phytoremediation strategy using CW treatment. In some countries, disinfection to remove
technology. Besides water quality improvement and pathogens sometimes follows the last treatment step. A
energy savings, CWs have other environmental protection generalized wastewater treatment diagram is shown in
features such as promoting biodiversity, providing habitat Figure 1.
for wetland organisms and wildlife (e.g. birds and reptiles
in large systems) [4], serving climatic (e.g. less CO2
production [4]; hydrological functions and bio
methylation [5]). These systems are generally cost Inlet Secondary Mixing water
Chamber clarifier chamber
effective, simple, environmentally non-disruptive [1,6]
ecologically sound [7] with low maintenance cost [8] and
low land requirements [9]. The principles of Screening
Aeration
Centrifuge
phytoremediation system are to clean up contaminated tank
water, which include identification and implementation of
efficient aquatic plant; uptake of dissolved nutrients and Removal of Polyelectroly
metals by the growing plants; and harvest and beneficial oil and Anoxic tank te dosing
grease system
use of the plant biomass produced from the remediation
system [9].
Distribution Pre-aeration Biological
The most important factor in implementing Grit chamber
chamber tank filters
phytoremediation is the selection of an appropriate plant
[1,10], which should have high uptake of both organic and
inorganic pollutants, grow well in polluted water and
easily controlled in quantitatively propagated dispersion Fig. 1. Sewage treatment process
[1]. The uptake and accumulation of pollutants vary from
plant to plant and also from specie to specie within a From the above Fig. 2, The different processes of
genus [11]. The economic success of phytoremediation conventional waste water treatment include, such as Inlet
largely depends on photosynthetic activity and growth Chamber, Screening, Removal of Oil and Grease, Grit
rate of plants [7], and with low to moderate amount of Chamber, Distribution Chamber, Anoxic Tank, Aeration
pollution [12]. Many researchers have used different plant Tank, Secondary Clarifier, Mixing water chamber,
species like Water Hyacinth (Eichhorniacrassipes (Mart.) Centrifuge, Polyelectrolyte Dosing System, Pre- Aeration
Solms) [12-20], Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) [21- Tank and Biological Filters.
25], Duckweed (Water Lemna), Bulrush (Typha), Vetiver The standards of Influent and Effluent have been obtained
Grass (Chrysopogonzizanioides) [1,26-28] and Common from Sewage Treatment plant as shown in Table 1.
Reed (Phragmites Australis) for the treatment of water.
Researchers have used these species for different types of TABLE 1
contaminated waters, effluents etc. INFLUENT AND EFFLUENT STANDARDS AT STPs
Mkandawire and Dude [29] have used duckweed and they
found its growth was restricted above 34 C and pH Parameter Influent Effluent
sensitive. Mashauri et al. [30] used bulrush and his study Temperature (in ºC) Ambient Ambient
revealed that the total dissolved solids (TDS) and PH 6-8.5 6.5-8.5
electrical conductivity (EC) concentration was increased BOD₅ (mg/l) 250 < 20
after treatment. Baskar et al. [31] in his study of kitchen COD (mg/l) 400 < 250
wastewater treatment found only 4% TDS removal by
Oil and Grease (mg/l) 30 < 10
common reed. Hence water hyacinth, water lettuce and
Total Solids (mg/l) 350 < 30
vetiver grass were selected for review because they
efficiently remove the heavy metals and other pollutants Residual Chlorine (mg/l) - <1
with high reproduction rate, efficiency and tolerance of Nitrate (mg/l) - < 10
ecological factors. In this paper, role of these plant species NH3 (mg/l) - 1.5- 2
have been discussed for the removal of water
contaminants. As the Sewage treatment plants (STPs) mainly comprises
of units like Aeration Tank, mixing water chamber,
3.0 METHODOLOGY Centrifuge, Polyelectrolyte Dosing System, Pre-aeration
tank, Biological filters and Chlorine Mixing tank etc.
Conventional wastewater treatment consists of a hence high amount of electricity is required for various
combination of physical, chemical, and biological operations of mixing and aeration purpose. STP is located
processes and operations to remove solids, organic matter at a place where load shedding is prominent which has
and, sometimes, nutrients from wastewater. General terms
resulted into decrease in the efficiency of plant. Humus taken weekly in a digital weighing machine (Least count
formed is difficult to remove. Moreover, the efficiency of of 0.1g) for seven consecutive weeks and a weight Vs
COD removal was also low. time graph was obtained. Figure 3 shows the growth rate
of water hyacinth was 33 gm/week
A. Waste water treatment by water hyacinth
300
Water hyacinth is aquatic vascular plant with rounded, 247.2
upright and shiny green leaves and lavender flowers 250
similar to orchids. It is fast growing perennial with great 198.9

Weight in Grams
186.2
reproduction potential. Growth of water hyacinth is 200 171.1
145.8
primary dependent on ability of plant to use solar energy,
150
nutrient composition of water, cultural methods and 105.4
environmental factors.Optimal water pH for growth of 100
this aquatic plant is neutral but it can tolerate pH values 45.1
from 4 to 10. This is very important fact because it points 50
that water hyacinth can be used for treatment of different
types of wastewater. Optimal water temperature for 0
growth is 28-30oC. Temperatures above 33oC inhibit 1 2 3 4
No. of Weeks
5 6 7
further growth. Fig. 3. Per week Growth rate of water hyacith

B. Growth Rate Especially in the seventh week the growth of water

Water hyacinth is fast growing perennial aquatic
macrophyte. It is a member of pickerelweed family. This
tropical plant spread throughout the world in late 19th and
early 20th century. Today it is well-known for its
reproduction potential and as a plant that can double its
population in only twelve days. Water hyacinth is also
known for its ability to grow in severe polluted
waters.Just like all other biological processes growth of
water hyacinth depends on various ecological factors. The
qualities of water and air temperatures are considered as
main limiting factors for regular plant development and
growth. Water hyacinth is growing fastest at temperatures
from 200C to 300C, but growth fully stops at
temperatures from 80C to 150C.To understand the
growing ability of water hyacinth, its growth rate was
studied .Figure 2 shows Water Hyacinth being weighed.
hyacinth was more due to the growth of new leaves and
development in its root system. From the graph obtained
it can be concluded that water hyacinth can double its
population in less than two weeks, with an average local
temperature of 240 C to 340C.
C. Evapotranspiration of Water Hyacinth
Two barrels of 50 liters capacity each (one with water
hyacinth and another without water hyacinth) were taken
and filled with equal volume of water (30 liters). After 24
hours the depleted water levels were measured in both the
barrels. The difference between the readings of the barrels
will give the transpiration rate of water hyacinth whereas
the reading of the barrel in which the water hyacinth was
kept will give the Evapotranspiration. Below Table. 2
shows an observation for evapotranspiration.

TABLE 2
OBSERVATION TABLE FOR EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

Day Mean Temp Evaporation Evapotranspiration

(ºC) (cm/day) (cm/day)
Feb-15 26.5 0.4 1.0
Feb-16 26.5 0.4 1.0
Feb-17 26.4 0.4 1.0
Feb-18 27 0.4 1.0
Feb-19 27 0.4 1.0
Feb-20 26.5 0.4 1.0
Feb-21 27 0.4 1.0
Feb-22 27.5 0.4 0.9
Feb-23 27.5 0.4 1.1
Feb-24 28 0.4 1.1

Fig. 2 Water Hyacinth being weighed

From the Table.2 it has been observed that, the
evapotranspiration of water hyacinth was found to be
Above Fig. 2 shows a water hyacinth plant which was
1.235 cm/day in the month of Feb-2017.
taken and allowed to grow in a bucket of capacity 16 lit.
with fresh water. Weight of this water hyacinth plant was
4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The waste water sample taken for Batch 1 was the using WH is 72.89% to that of 31.6% of WSP. The COD
effluent from the toilet and bathroom chamber. Both the using WH gave efficiency up to 69.33% as compared to
barrel was filled with the effluent waste water. The water 64.41% using WSP. The plant showed great capacity to
hyacinth barrel was stocked with 2kg net weight of plants, treat the waste water in this range. The efficiency
having roots 10-40 cm long. The detention time of 5 days increased almost two fold and the COD reduced to a
was applied to both the barrels. Table 3 gives the considerable extent.
reduction in waste water quality parameters for batch 1.
5.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
TABLE 3
RESULTS OF BATCH 1 SAMPLES Water hyacinth can be used to treat sewage with effluent
standards within the range 750-850mg/lit. It is highly
Sample 2 (Waste
Test
Sample 1(Water Hyacinth)
Stabilisation Pond)
suitable for tropical wet and dry climate. Also, requires
Day 1 Day 3 Day 5 Day 1 Day 3 Day 5 minimal space for the set-up and if the waste water flow is
Ph Paper 8 7 7 8 7 7 high, then a series or parallel set-up of water hyacinth can
Ph Meter 6.95 6.93 6.93 6.95 6.96 6.94 be done, thus using land and space to the maximum
Ts 937 400 280 937 360 240 extent. The plant doesn’t require any energy for its
Ds 533.6 280 150 576 160 100
function and hence it is suitable where there isn’t proper
Ss 403.4 120 130 360 200 140
Cod(mg/lit) 550 757.57 549.24 550 314 180 supply of power or where the cost of energy is too high.
Chloride 179.9 174.95 169.95 180 179.95 179.95
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