Pennisetum purpureum proved most efficient for wastewater treatment and biomass yield, with strong bioethanol potential across grasses.
Authors
Jaya S Pillai, Department of Civil Engineering, Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India
Brijesh Nair Nalinakumari, International Affairs and Global Initiatives, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Summary
The present study evaluated the performance and treatment efficiency of tropical vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) using five different lignocellulosic grass species suitable to the tropical climate of Kerala to function as decentralized ecological sanitation systems for the treatment and utilization of wastewater. The study also investigated the biomass yield and bioethanol production potential of the grasses harvested from the VFCWs. The results indicate the significant role of plants and root zone treatment in the removal of contaminants in the VFCW systems. Among the planted VFCWs, the systems using Pennisetum purpureum and Urochloa brizantha achieved high pollutant removal efficiency for TSS, organic matter and nutrients, though there was no significant statistical difference between the two. The VFCW using Pennisetum purpureum obtained mean removal efficiencies of TSS (89.87%), BOD (87.40%), COD (79.30%), NH4-N (69.70%), Nitrates (68.80%), TN (43.27%) and Phosphates (49.80%). The mean removal efficiencies obtained in the VFCW using Urochloa brizantha were: TSS (88.90%), BOD (85.60%), COD (77.30%), NH4-N (67.10%), Nitrates (67.07%), TN (42.53%) and Phosphates (48.80%). The biomass production of Pennisetum purpureum was found to be significantly high when compared to other grasses. Ethanol production after 72 hours expressed in volume of ethanol to the volume of the total reaction mixture(v/v) was obtained high for Andropogon gayanus (10.62%) followed by Panicum maximum (7.93%).
Published in: Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment
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