Title: The use of vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) for the remediation of wastewater discharged from tapioca factories

Authors: E.R. Indrayatie; W.H. Utomo; E. Handayanto; C.W.N. Anderson

Addresses: Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, Indonesia ' Centre for Soil and Land Resources Management, Brawijaya University, Malang, 65144, Indonesia ' Centre for Soil and Land Resources Management, Brawijaya University, Malang, 65144, Indonesia ' Soil and Earth Sciences, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Abstract: Three experiments were conducted to study the potential use of vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides L.) to remediate wastewater discharged from a tapioca factory. Two experiments studied the tolerance of vetiver to grow in wastewater, and the other studied the factors influencing the effectiveness of vetiver for the remediation of the wastewater. Vetiver grew well in all wastewater preparations and was able to improve wastewater quality. However, the efficacy of remediation was a function of the remediation system used (wetland or hydroponic) and the density of the plants at the start of the remediation. Vetiver remediation was more efficient in a wetland system. To achieve the water quality standard of the East Java Province, wastewater could be remediated within 30 days using a plant density of approximately 86 g dry biomass/1256 cm² at the time of starting the remediation, the equivalent of 6.85 t/ha.

Keywords: organic waste; vetiver remediation; phytoremediation; cyanide; cassava; tapioca factories; wastewater treatment; water quality; Indonesia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2013.054776

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2013 Vol.12 No.1, pp.1 - 16

Published online: 20 Sep 2014 *

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