IJEP 41(6): 681-685 : Vol. 41 Issue. 6 (June 2021)
1. Lovely Professional University, Department of Zoology, Phagwara – 144 411, Punjab, India
2. Mehr Chand Mahajan (MCM) DAV College for Women, Depatment of Zoology, Chandigarh – 160 036, India
Abstract
Water treatment is a prime thrust area of research these days. A number of techniques have been developed to optimize water treatment practices. Approximately 7300 m3 of wastewater and sludge is generated annually in India and most of it is disposed into the rivers as such. There are significant types of wastewater treatment filters, like trickling filter, horizontal rock filter in a polluted stream, granular activated carbon (GAC) or sand filter. In the present research, the wastewater filtering potential of mollusc and annelid is explored. A small invertebrate biofiltration setup was constructed by using different substrates (gravels, ash, peels) aided with local mollusc (L. marginalis) and earthworm (E. fetida). Alongside another setup prepared with the same layers but without aiding invertebrates was considered as a control to analyse the filtration potential of invertebrates. Four respective filtration cycles were considered to observe changes in chemical parameters. There was a significant increase in pH (9.04% compared to control). Invertebrate filter caused a significant decrease in the level of EC, TDS and hardness. Results thus suggested that an integrated invertebrate filtration system is more efficient in treating wastewater. However, a preliminary idea to use invertebrates for wastewater treatment is developed through this work. Further detailed studies to fix the role of each group in filtration, density-based filtration rate and examination of other crucial parameters are areas which are still unexplored.
Keywords
Biofilter, Eisenia fetida, Lamnellidens marginalis, Wastewater, Reactor
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