STUDY AND APPLICATION OF SOIL BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR REMOVAL OF COD FROM FERTILIZER WASTEWATER
Department of Civil Engineering, BVM Engineering College, India
ABSTRACT
In a laboratory study, treatment of fertilizer wastewater having chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the range of 600 to 800 mg/L. by soil biotechnology was examined. Soil biotechnology is a system for water renovation which consists of soil, formulated granular filter media, selected culture of macro organisms such as earthworms. Earthworms body act as a ‘biofilter’ and they were found to decrease COD-70 to 82 % at different detention time. Earthworms treat the wastewater by the mechanism of ‘feeding’ and ‘biodegradation. Also increase the hydraulic conductivity and natural aeration by grinding the soil particle. In the present study the effluent passed through top layer of the filter and found out the efficiency of removal of COD. There is no sludge formation in this process which requires additional expenditure on landfill and disposal. The process is odor-free, ecofriendly and cost effective.
