Treatment of dye containing wastewaters by a developed lab scale phytoreactor and enhancement of its efficacy by bacterial augmentation

Portulaca grandiflora (Moss-Rose) was used in an experimental lab scale phytoreactor. The efficacy of the phytoreactor was increased by augmenting Pseudomonas putida cultures to the soil. Four independent reactors with soil, bacteria, plants and consortium were developed and used for the treatment of a real textile effluent, and a dye mixture. The textile effluent treated by reactor containing soil, bacteria and plants showed American dye Manufacturers Institute (ADMI) removal by 31, 50 and 75% within 72 h respectively, whereas consortium reactor showed 89% color removal within 48 h. Effluent treated by soil, bacteria and plant reactors showed COD reductions by 35,47 and 59%, BUD by 14, 28 and 38%, TOC by 15, 23 and 37%, turbidity was reduced by 20, 29 and 41%, TDS by 60, 66 and 71%, TSS was reduced by 41, 46 and 60% respectively within 72 h. Whereas consortium reactor treated the effluent more efficiently, where COD, BOD, TOC, turbidity, TDS and TSS of the effluent after treatment was reduced by 73, 54, 52, 57,83 and 71% respectively within just 48 h. HPLC and FTIR analysis of untreated and treated effluent and HPTLC of dye mixture revealed the transformation of dyes to different metabolites. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.