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Treatment of tannery wastewater in a pilot scale hybrid constructed wetland system in Arequipa, Peru

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Abstract

Tannery wastewater is an industrial effluent characterized by high and variable concentrations of complex pollutants. These contaminants pose a high risk to the environment if discharged into a body of water without undergoing proper treatment. This study evaluated the performance of a pilot-scale hybrid constructed wetland system (horizontal subsurface flow + free water surface flow) for tannery wastewater treatment. The pollutant removal efficiency of the hybrid constructed wetland was determined, and the chromium bioaccumulation and growth and survival parameters of the macrophytes Isolepis cernua and Nasturtium aquaticum were evaluated. The 5-day biological oxygen demand, the chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids and chromium reached maximum levels (98%, 97%, 97%, 33% and 98%, respectively) after treatment in the pilot-scale hybrid constructed wetland. The average concentrations of the 5-day biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids and chromium were within the discharge limits established by national and international organizations for surface water bodies. The macrophytes had low levels of chromium bioconcentration and translocation, with the growth and survival, especially of Isolepis cernua, revealing a high capacity to adapt to the variability and possible toxic effects of tannery wastewater. In general, the pilot-scale hybrid constructed wetland proved to be a feasible alternative for the treatment of tannery wastewater in an important industrial zone in Peru.

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  • 21 December 2020

    In the list of author surnames, an author name was incorrectly stated in the original print and online files. The correct list of author names for this article should appear as:

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín (UNSA) of Arequipa (No. contrato TP-057-2018-UNSA). The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of the Instituto de Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV) of the Consejo Nacional de Investigación Científica y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), the UNSA and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica (CONCYTEC), FONDECYT, Perú, which supported the facilities used in this investigation. The authors thank Dr. Paul Hobson, native speaker, for revision of the manuscript and Mr. Mario Huisa M. for his valuable technical contributions to the investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering School, Faculty of Process Engineering, National University of San Agustín de Arequipa (UNSA), Arequipa, Perú

    J S. P. Zapana & E. F. Bocardo

  2. Multidisciplinary Institute of Plant Biology (IMBIV), CONICET and Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina

    D. S. Arán & C. A. Harguinteguy

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  1. J S. P. Zapana
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  2. D. S. Arán
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  3. E. F. Bocardo
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  4. C. A. Harguinteguy
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Correspondence to C. A. Harguinteguy.

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The author has declared no conflict of interest. The study has carried out by the author.

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Editorial responsibility: M. Abbaspour.

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Zapana, J.S.P., Arán, D.S., Bocardo, E.F. et al. Treatment of tannery wastewater in a pilot scale hybrid constructed wetland system in Arequipa, Peru. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 17, 4419–4430 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02797-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02797-8

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