The feasibility of sludge stabilization of municipal wastewater by phytoremediation (case study: Kermanshah wastewater treatment plant)

Subject Areas : Environment Pullotion (water and wastewater)

Bahareh Nowruzi ¹ , Ali Almasi ² , Reza Haji Seyed Mohammad Shirazi ³ , Mojtaba Salmany ⁴

1 - Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Converging Sciences and Technologies, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Professor, Department of Environmental health engineering, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
3 - Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. *(Corresponding Author)
4 - Master of Science, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2022-08-29 Accepted : 2022-11-02 Published : 2024-06-21

Keywords: Sludge stabilization, Tomato, Cotton, Lead, Cadmium, Organic carbon. ,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: Phytoremediation is a low-cost and environmentally-friendly technology. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of tomato and cotton plants in stabilizing urban sewage sludge with an emphasis on organic carbon, lead and cadmium removal. Material and Methodology: In this experimental study on pilot scale, in order to achieve the research objectives, we planted Tomato and Cotton plants in a condensed sludge bed. Also, a non-plant bed was considered as control bed. The performance of the phytoremediation was measured by the changes of organic carbon, pH, electrical conductivity and heavy metals of lead and cadmium during 120 days. Findings: Results of statistical analysis showed that after 120 days, the removal efficiency of organic carbon, lead and cadmium in Tomato were 35 ± 0.4%, 74.29 ± 0.3% and 91.42% respectively and in Cotton were 38 ± 3.7%, 54.93 ± 3.2% and 93.2± 0.3% respectively. The difference in mean efficiency in Tomato and Cotton was not significant until 30 days (p>0.05). Moreover, the results of this study showed that the concentration of organic carbon, cadmium and lead in sludge treated with Tomato and Cotton plants was significantly lower than that of control treatment sludge. Discussion and Conclusions: The results showed that the noted plants have a high ability to stabilize urban sewage sludge and eliminate organic carbon, lead and cadmium. Therefore, this method can be used as an option to stabilize sewage sludge and reduce its organic and inorganic pollutants on a large scale.

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