Full Length Research Paper

Phosphorus removal from aquaculture wastewater and latex by Ceratophyllum demersum

M. Foroughi* and S. Toghiani

Young Researchers Club Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan Branch, Isfahan, Iran.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: Foroughi.maryam@yahoo.com.

Abbreviations: TMW, Treated municipal wastewater; RMW, raw municipal wastewater; DFL, diluted fresh latex.

Accepted 2 December, 2011

   Abstract

Water pollution has always been a major problem in the environment. Polluted water is harmful for human health, thus, there is the need to clean water from polluting factors. One of the economical and rapid methods for removing elements is displacement of metals by biosorption. Three treatments in four replications for purifying wastewater by Ceratophyllum demersum were designed. The treatments included raw municipal wastewater (RMW), treated municipal wastewater (TMW), and diluted fresh latex (DFL). The experiment was performed in the open air of Khorasgan University area for 18 days “without aeration” and 18 days “with aeration” after the period of “without aeration”. The results of the study indicated that the phosphorous (P) of TMW (4.48 to 0.53 meq/l), RMW (13.68 to 1.15 meq/l), and DFL (1.2 to 0.21 meq/L) was reduced in each of the treatments without aeration. In addition, the results also indicated that P of TMW (0.53 to 0.07 ds/m), RMW (1.15 to 0.39 ds/m), and DFL (0.21 to 0 meq/l) declined in the treatments with aeration. After this examination, the accumulation of phosphorous in C. demersum indicated that the phosphorous in TMW, RMW, and DCL without aeration increased by 63.67, 16.77 and 5.4% respectively. In another condition that was used with aeration, the results demonstrated the concentration of P in TMW, RMW and DFL treatments that was stored in C. demersum increased by 2.06, 34.19, and 48.59% respectively.

Key words: Pollution, Ceratophyllum demersum, phosphorous.