Combination technology of ceramic microfiltration and biosorbent for treatment and reuse of tannery effluent from different streams: response of defence system in Euphorbia sp.

Background: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of combined technology involvingceramic microfiltration and biosorbent for the treatment of tannery effluent from different streams, viz. compositeeffluent, effluent from primary clarifier and secondary clarifier. The membranes were prepared from a cost-effectivecomposition of alumina and clay.Results: The effluents had high organic loading of 12,895, 3,890 and 410 mg/L, respectively, in terms of chemicaloxygen demand (COD). Apart from these, the effluents consisted of toxic heavy metals, turbidity, biochemicaloxygen demand (BOD), etc. It was observed that COD reduction was about 96.5% for effluent 1, 96.6% for effluent2 and 96.9% for effluent 3. Considerable reduction in suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total organic carbon wasobtained. Turbidity for all three types of effluent was below 1 NTU. The average flux value for effluents 1, 2 and 3was about 13, 19 and 24 L/m2/h (LMH), respectively. Response of the antioxidative defences of Euphorbia hirta wasobserved which resulted in considerable decrease in the activity of peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase.Conclusions: The treatment resulted in the reduction of toxicity thereby restoring normal activity when comparedto control values. Changes in various biochemical parameters like protein, amino acid, carbohydrate, DNA, RNA andchlorophyll content were observed.

Keywords:

Tannery effluent , Biosorbent , Ceramic membrane , Microfiltration , Reuse , Euphorbia sp