Phytodegradation of Textile Dyes by Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes) and Composting the Waste by Earthworm

Abstract

The potential of water hyacinth to degrade the dye waste water and the tolerant ability was investigated. Further, the used water hyacinath was recycled to vermicomposting with cow dung and garden wastes. The methylene blue and Methyl red was used as dye waste water. The water hyacinath was submerged in the dye waste waters at various concentrations for 144 hours. The  methylene blue  showed better degradation   (85.20%) in 20ppm and  lower degradation(53.50%) in 50ppm.The  methyl red showed  higher degradation (95.5%) in 10ppm and  lower  degradation in (30%) 50ppm. The physico-chemical characteristic of the vermicompost such as N, P, K, P^H and colour was also investigated. It has been concluded that the water hyacinth was an efficient macrophyte for the treatment of the dye waste water. The study also concludes that water hyacinth was a good vermicompost.