Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Textile wastewater poses significant risks if discharged untreated, especially due to the presence of synthetic dyes, salts, and heavy metals. As a result, constructed wetlands have emerged as a promising solution for sustainable textile wastewater management. In this context, this study evaluates a micro-scale vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland (VSSFCW) for treating textile wastewater. Specifically, the experimental setup consisted of two microcosm units, each with a depth of 32 cm and a diameter of 24 cm, which were filled with scoria media. One unit was planted with Vetiver grass, while the other was left unplanted. Furthermore, the experiment was conducted with a hydraulic retention time of 3 days. Additionally, the scoria media was characterized using FTIR, SEM, XRD, CEC, and pH analyses, which revealed notable changes in both functional groups and surface morphology. The scoria was found to have a CEC of 12 meq/100 g and a pH of 8.86, both of which facilitated pollutant removal. Moreover, the textile wastewater that was fed into the VSSFCW systems contained dye concentrations ranging from 39.41 to 45.29 mg/L throughout the study period. As a result of this setup, the dye removal efficiency in both wetland cells increased over time. Notably, the VSSFCW planted with Vetiver grass achieved a higher dye removal efficiency (84%) compared to the unplanted system (80%). These findings, therefore, demonstrate that the VSSFCW consistently meets wastewater standards, representing a low-cost, decentralized solution to address textile pollution, especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. In conclusion, the synergy between the scoria media and Vetiver grass proved highly effective in treating textile wastewater.
Etana et al. (Mon,) studied this question.