TSS and TDS Removal from Batik Wastewater through Water Hyacinth Phytoremediation.

Abstract

Batik industries generally generate wastewater with extremely high levels of total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS), which are environmentally toxic. Conventional technologies for this are costly and beyond the reach of small-scale producers. The current study evaluated the performance of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for the removal of TSS and TDS from batik wastewater. Three phytoremediation chambers containing 10 L of wastewater were treated with 5, 10, and 15 clumps of water hyacinth. Experimental setups included treated and filtered wastewater, treated and unfiltered wastewater, and control. Water quality parameters like pH, TSS, and TDS were measured on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Statistical analysis was done using ANOVA. The TDS values (mg/L) progressively showed a decrease across the study period. For the control, the reduction was from 1.92 to 0.8 (5 plants), 1.92 to 0.7 (10 plants), and 1.92 to 0.6 (15 plants). In treated and filtered wastewater, the reduction was from 1.76 to 0.72 (5 plants), 1.76 to 0.6 (10 plants), and 1.76 to 0.5 (15 plants). Values dropped from 2.37 to 1.45 (5 plants), 2.37 to 1.2 (10 plants), and 2.37 to 0.95 (15 plants) for treated and unfiltered wastewater, with larger reductions observed with an increase in plants. Statistical analysis confirmed that there was no significant difference between treatments and control with a p-value 0.073 (p > 0.05). This confirms there is no significant difference in TDS removal between groups. The control group's TSS values (mg/L) decreased from 0.0150 to 0.011 (5 plants), 0.0150 to 0.011 (10 plants), and 0.0150 to 0.01 (15 plants). The range of decreases in treated and filtered wastewater was 0.0327 to 0.0247 (15 plants), 0.0327 to 0.025 (10 plants), and 0.0327 to 0.03 (5 plants). TSS readings for treated and not-filtered wastewater dropped dramatically from 0.3653 to 0.1143 (5 plants), 0.3653 to 0.1017 (10 plants), and 0.3653 to 0.094 (15 plants). Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences (p < 0.05) between treatments and control, highlighting the effectiveness of the water hyacinth. TDS and TSS results were compared with central environmental authority discharge limits, which indicated that phytoremediation with water hyacinth improved wastewater quality within permissible limits. The current research illustrates the potential of water hyacinth as a low-cost and eco-friendly alternative for the treatment of wastewater in small-scale batik industries.