A system for rapid and inexpensive treatment of sewage using the weed Eclipta prostrata in SHEFROL® bioreactor

摘要

In a first report of its kind, it is shown that the weed Eclipta prostrata is able to treat sewage rapidly and effectively when used in the novel sheet-flow-root-level (SHEFROL (R)) bioreactor developed earlier by the authors. Besides extensive primary and secondary treatment in terms of removal of suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand, E. prostrata was also able to substantially remove the excess nutrients which cause eutrophication (nitrogen and phosphorous) and the heavy metals copper, nickel and manganese. In this manner extensive secondary treatment was achieved along with significant primary and tertiary treatment. Equally significantly it was all accomplished in a single step and at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 6 h or less. The system promises to be highly inexpensive and efficient in treating sewage.