Performance of vetiver grass and aeration on chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus removal from surface water of the Chiang Mai moat
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Abstract
The polluted water of Chiang Mai’s iconic moat negatively impacts the city’s image, affecting perceptions among both residents and visitors. Furthermore, contamination of the moat poses significant risks to public health, underscoring the urgent need for cost-effective and sustainable remediation strategies. To achieve this goal, the implementation of bio-phytoremediation, using vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty), was proposed as a promising solution to this problem. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of vetiver grass, in combination with aeration, for removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrients from the moat’s water. Water samples collected from the moat were used in experimental setups, where hydroponically grown vetiver grass was cultivated on floating platforms, with some setups incorporating aeration and others without. A control group without vetiver platforms or aeration was also included. The results obtained demonstrated that the combination of vetiver grass and aeration yielded the highest removal efficiencies, achieving 96.38% COD removal (kCOD = -5×10-4 h-1), 91.57% NH3-N removal, and 70.59% total nitrogen (TN) removal (kTN = -0.115 h-1). Total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency was approximately 70% for both the vetiver platform with aeration, and the vetiver platform alone (kTP = -1×10-4 h-1). This study demonstrates the potential of vetiver grass as an effective bio-phytoremediation agent for the treatment of urban surface water. Implementing this approach in Chiang Mai’s moat could improve the city’s appearance, protect public health, promote sustainable water management, and do so in a cost-effective manner.
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