Conference Programme FULL (1)

Treatment of artificial wastewater contaminated with azo dyes by simulated shallow ponds system
Dina A. Yaseen, Miklas Scholz
The industrial revolution and rapid population growth have increased the demand for textile materials, which has
consequently increased the number of textile industries and their effluents, to be one of the major causes of global
environmental pollution challenges due to the presence of dyes. These dyes in addition to their unacceptable appearance,
often produce toxic breakdown intermediates. Biological treatment alternatives such as constructed wetland ponds are
likely to be sustainable and cost-effective. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of shallow ponds system in
presence of Lemna minor and/or algae for the treatment of artificial wastewater contaminated with textile dyes at a
concentration of 5 mg/l. The objectives were to assess and compare the (i) outflow water quality parameters such as pH,
suspended solids (SS), and total dissolved solids (TDS); (ii) removal efficiency of four azo dyes: acid blue 113 (AB113),
reactive blue 198 (RB198), basic red 46 (BR46) and direct orange 46 (DO46); (iii) chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal
efficiency; (iv) relative growth rate of the L. minor. Findings indicate that the outflow values of pH and TDS are within the
standard limits for discharge to the aquatic environment and the shallow pond planted with L. minor is effective
significantly (p < 0.05) for treating the dye BR46 higher than other dyes. All ponds showed low COD removal. Furthermore,
the growth of L. minor was inhibited by BR46. This work will contribute to a better understanding of the performance of
sustainable vegetated treatment ponds for dye pollution removal.