title: Use of constructed wetland for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater.
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a continuous free surface flow wetland for removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater, in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate (GAIE), Swabi, Pakistan. Industrial wastewater samples were collected from the in-let, out-let and all cells of the constructed wetland (CW) and analyzed for heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) using standard methods. Similarly, samples of aquatic macrophytes and sediments were also analyzed for selected heavy metals. Results indicate that the removal efficiencies of the CW for Pb, Cd, Fe, Ni, Cr, and Cu were 50%, 91.9%, 74.1%, 40.9%, 89%, and 48.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the performance of the CW was efficient enough to remove the heavy metals, particularly Cd, Fe, and Cu, from the industrial wastewater fed to it. However, it is suggested that the metal removal efficiency of the CW can be further enhanced by using proper management of vegetation and area expansion of the present CW.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan. sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sardar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Irshad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: M Tahir
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Shafiqur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rehman
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khaliq
mesh_terms: D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical