Removal of Phosphorus from Nutrient Enriched Water by Using Combinations of Three Aquatic Macrophytes Found in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Phosphorous is one of the major nutrients, which contribute for increased eutrophicationof lakes and natural waters. Aquatic plants can be used to reduce the phosphorus in water and commonly used in wastewater treatment plants. In this experiment, Limnocharis flava, Pistia stratiotes and Ipomea aquatica were used, which are common invasive plants in Sri Lanka. The batch experiment demonstrates that the nutrient removal efficiency at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 5 day is best suit for phosphorus treatment from nutrient enriched water using constructed wetlands with mixed plant cultures. Continuous flow constructed wetland with Limnocharis flava: Ipomoea aquatica (3:1) mixed plant culture where it obtained the highest total phosphorus removal efficiency as 67%. So, this research is an application of continuous flow constructed wetland for removing Phosphorus nutrient enriched water using emergent- floating plant combination of Limnocharis flava: Ipomea aquatica (3:1) at HRT of 5 day.