Evaluation of Pistia stratiotes sp. and Eichhornia crassipes sp. macrophytes in the neutralization and reduction of solids in suspension at the Pichanaqui treatment plant- Junín (Perú)

Abstract

The objective of the research was to evaluate the efficiency of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), in the neutralization of the pH and removal of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in the domestic wastewater of the production plant. treatment of the district of Pichanaqui, Chanchamayo, Junín. The investigation was of an experimental type, for which the biofilter reactor was designed that emulates the operation of the wastewater treatment plant, made up of 3 subreactors in which the experimental phase of primary water treatment was carried out under similar conditions for both species between October 18 and December 18, 2022. Up to 75% TSS removal was achieved using the P. stratiotes macrophyte, and 72.5% by applying the E. crassipes species. Also, the pH neutralization efficiency was analyzed where it was possible to neutralize up to 11.2% with the application of P. stratiotes, and 10.8% through the application of E. crassipes sp., complying with the maximum permissible limits (LMP). established by DS-003-2010-MINAM, for both parameters. Finally, the macrophyte P. stratiotes achieved higher TSS removal efficiency and pH neutralization compared to the species E. crassipes.