Impacts of composite wastewater on a Pampean stream (Argentina) and phytoremediation alternative with Spirodela intermedia Koch (Lemnaceae) growing in batch reactors

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 115; pp. 53 - 59
• Main Authors: Basílico, Gabriel, de Cabo, Laura, Faggi, Ana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 30-01-2013; Elsevier; Academic Press Ltd
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Araceae - metabolism; Argentina; Batch reactor; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Bioreactors; Bioremediation; Byproducts; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Creeks & streams; Environmental management; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Nitrification; Nutrients; Phosphorus; Phytoremediation; Pollution; Poultry; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - metabolism; Reactors; Spirodela intermedia; Streams; Waste; Waste water; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Wastewaters; Water pollutants; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water quality; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; South America; Argentina; America; Buenos Aires Argentina; Nutrients; Batch reactor; Wastewater; Spirodela intermedia; Monocotyledones; Lemnaceae; Environmental management; Waste water; Phytoremediation; Angiospermae; Nutrient; Spermatophyta; Stream
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.11.028

Poultry slaughterhouses are producing increasing amounts of solid organic by-products and waste in Argentina. The objectives of this study are to assess the impacts of wastewater, mainly composed of poultry slaughterhouse effluent, on a Pampean stream and to evaluate the convenience of phytoremediation alternative with Spirodela intermedia. Impacts over La Choza stream (Buenos Aires, Argentina) were evaluated by means of physical and chemical characterization of the water upstream and downstream input. Nutrients and total suspended solids increased downstream of the open channel outlet. A bioassay was performed in order to evaluate the role of S. intermedia in wastewater treatment. Two treatments were performed in batch reactors during 144 h (6 days), with (treatment A) and without (treatment B) the addition of S. intermedia. Water samples were taken at 8, 24, 48, 96 and 144 h after the start of the assay for the determination of ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus. Since removal rates of ammonium and total phosphorus were significantly higher in treatment A than in treatment B and the nitrification process was highly increased in treatment A, then the species could be used for the phytoremediation of composite wastewater.
► Spirodela intermedia was tested for nutrient extraction in composite wastewater. ► Ammonium and TP removals were improved by the presence of the species. ► Nitrification process was increased in containers with S. intermedia.