TY - JOUR
T1 - Toxicity of high salinity tannery wastewater and effects on constructed wetland plants
AU - Calheiros, Cristina S. C.
AU - Silva, Gabriela
AU - Quitério, Paula V. B.
AU - Crispim, Luís F. C.
AU - Brix, Hans
AU - Moura, Sandra C.
AU - Castro, Paula M. L.
PY - 2012/8
Y1 - 2012/8
N2 - The toxicity of high salinity tannery wastewater produced after an activated sludge secondary treatment on the germination and seedling growth of Trifolium pratense, a species used as indicator in toxicity tests, was evaluated. Growth was inhibited by wastewater concentrations >25% and undiluted effluent caused a complete germination inhibition. Constructed wetlands (CWs) with Arundo donax or Sarcocornia fruticosa were envisaged to further polish this wastewater. Selection of plant species to use in CWs for industrial wastewater treatment is an important issue, since for a successful establishment they have to tolerate the often harsh wastewater composition. For that, the effects of this wastewater on the growth of Arundo and Sarcocornia were assessed in pot assays. Plants were subject to different wastewater contents (0/50/100%), and both were resilient to the imposed conditions. Arundo had higher growth rates and biomass than Sarcocornia and may therefore be the preferred species for use in CWs treating tannery wastewater. CWs planted with the above mentioned plants significantly decreased the toxicity of the wastewater, as effluent from the CWs outlet stimulated the growth of Trifolium at concentrations <50%, and seed germination and growth even occurred in undiluted effluent.
AB - The toxicity of high salinity tannery wastewater produced after an activated sludge secondary treatment on the germination and seedling growth of Trifolium pratense, a species used as indicator in toxicity tests, was evaluated. Growth was inhibited by wastewater concentrations >25% and undiluted effluent caused a complete germination inhibition. Constructed wetlands (CWs) with Arundo donax or Sarcocornia fruticosa were envisaged to further polish this wastewater. Selection of plant species to use in CWs for industrial wastewater treatment is an important issue, since for a successful establishment they have to tolerate the often harsh wastewater composition. For that, the effects of this wastewater on the growth of Arundo and Sarcocornia were assessed in pot assays. Plants were subject to different wastewater contents (0/50/100%), and both were resilient to the imposed conditions. Arundo had higher growth rates and biomass than Sarcocornia and may therefore be the preferred species for use in CWs treating tannery wastewater. CWs planted with the above mentioned plants significantly decreased the toxicity of the wastewater, as effluent from the CWs outlet stimulated the growth of Trifolium at concentrations <50%, and seed germination and growth even occurred in undiluted effluent.
KW - Arundo donax
KW - Industrial wastewater
KW - Leather industry
KW - Sarcocornia fruticosa
KW - Toxicity test with plants
KW - Trifolium pratense
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860337723&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15226514.2011.619233
DO - 10.1080/15226514.2011.619233
M3 - Article
C2 - 22908635
AN - SCOPUS:84860337723
SN - 1522-6514
VL - 14
SP - 669
EP - 680
JO - International Journal of Phytoremediation
JF - International Journal of Phytoremediation
IS - 7
ER -
