Role of typha latifolia aquatic plant in nitrogen and phosphorus removal from treated municipal waste water

Effluent generally includes nutrient elements like nitrogen and phosphorus. Its discharge to water resources leads to an increase in the growth of different types of algae and at last eutrification. Hence it is necessary to decrease the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen as much as possible before discharging of effluent to water resources. The use of aguatic plants is one of the effective methods for refining nitrogen and phosphorus in polluted water. For this propose، an experiment was conducted on thypha latifolia with 4 treatments and three replicates in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement in experimental reactors with the batch. Treatments included effluent along with the plant، effluent diluted (dilution grade 1 / 2) with the plant and control (no plant) in two cases (initial and diluted effluents). Parameters of nitrate، ammonium، organic nitrogen، total nitrogen، dissolved phosphorus، BOD and COD in time of 8، 16 and 24 days in effluent samples and total nitrogen of plant tissue at the beginning and end of experimental period were measured. The results showed that the concentration of nitrate، ammonium، organic nitrogen، total nitrogen and dissolved phosphorus in plant treatment was significantly lower than treatment without the plant and there was non significant difference in pH values of the treatments. Typha latifolia aquatic plant was efficient in the reduction of BOD of initial effluent only in second time. It is concluded that، influence of plant system are more significantly efficient than without plant system in the decrease of concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient elements.