Development and Performance Evaluation of Phytoremediation System for the Treatment of Wastewater

This experimental study aimed to identify suitable plant species for wastewater treatment in a constructed wetland system.Cymbopogon flexuous (lemon grass) and Clitoria ternatea (Asian pigeon wings) were planted with both wastewater and fresh water over a 24-week period.Growth parameters were recorded at specified intervals.Lemon grass exhibited the greatest plant height, the highest number of new leaves, and the newest shuts, while Clitoria produced the highest number of pods.In terms of treatment efficiency, both species demonstrated significant pollutant removal, achieving reductions of 90% in BOD, 80% in COD, and 95%-90% in TDS.With the exception of BOD, which was not effectively treated by elephant grass and giant bluestem, all other effluent parameters complied with CPCB guidelines.To evaluate long-term performance, further research is recommended with a continuous wastewater feed and an extended duration.