Abstract
This study compares biochar (BCW) systems’ pollutant removal effectiveness to conventional subsurface flow (CCW) in constructed wetland systems to treat textile wastewater. The two systems were identical in construction, but the biochar was 0.1 m thick over gravel and sand (maximum flow rate of 0.021 m3 h−1) as the primary medium over CCW (flow rate of 0.02 m3 h−1). The results revealed that the BCW approach was more efficient than the CCW system (pebble over sand and gravels) in removing and lowering heavy metals below thresh hold limits such as Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn. The alkaline nature of textile water achieves neutrality in both CCW and BCW. However, BCW is more efficient due to a larger active surface area and the ability to filter out more metal and organic ions. TDS reduction efficiency in BCW was 53.07%, compared to 40.04% in CCW. Heavy metal removal was 100% in BCW at 3 to 12 h, whereas it takes 6 to 24 h in CCW (82% for Cr to 93% for Cu). The quick removal of Na from textile wastewater by BCW was reversed and achieved equilibrium in 24 h in contrast to the CCW system (> 24 h). The findings obtained at the lab scale level demonstrated that the BCW system was more effective in reducing TDS, neutralizing the alkalinity of textile wastewater, and removing heavy metals. This study strongly supports the potential application of biochar-constructed wetlands for textile wastewater treatment.
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Data availability
The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- %:
-
Percent
- “h”:
-
Hour
- < :
-
Lesser than
- > :
-
Greater than
- APHA:
-
American Public Health Association
- BCW:
-
Biochar subsurface flow-constructed wetland
- BDL:
-
Below detection limit
- CCW:
-
Conventional subsurface flow-constructed wetland
- Cd:
-
Cadmium
- CEC:
-
Cation exchange capacity
- Cr:
-
Chromium
- Cu:
-
Copper
- CW:
-
Constructed wetland
- Fig.:
-
Figure
- GDP:
-
Gross domestic product
- MLD:
-
Million liters per day
- Na:
-
Sodium
- Ni:
-
Nickel
- Pb:
-
Lead
- TDS:
-
Total dissolved solids
- TI:
-
Textile industry
- TNPCB:
-
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
- Zn:
-
Zinc
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Acknowledgements
The authors are highly thankful to the Dean, Head of the department, and staff members of the SWC Engineering Department of Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, Coimbatore, for providing the space, necessary support, and encouragement for the smooth completion of this study.
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SS and KB contributed data collection, data analysis, interpretation of the result, and writing. SD and KV have been involved on critically advising, revising the manuscript, and made possible suggestion. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Highlights
• The lab-scale biochar subsurface flow-constructed wetland (BCW) and conventional subsurface flow-constructed wetland (CCW) were designed.
• Darcy’s law approximated the hydraulic performance of BCW and CCW treatment systems reasonably well.
• Biochar utilized in the BCW may be more successful than CCW for removing pollutants from textile industry wastewater.
• The BCW eliminated more heavy metals from textile wastewater than the CCW method, including Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn.
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Selvakumar, S., Boomiraj, K., Durairaj, S. et al. Performance evaluation of a lab-scale subsurface flow–constructed wetland system for textile industry wastewater treatment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 102708–102724 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29425-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29425-5