REMOVAL OF TURBIDITY IN DAIRY WASTE WATER THROUGH AQUATIC MACROPHYTES

Demand for milk and milk products caused vast growth of dairy industries in most countries of the world. Consequently, the amount of wastewater and waste material generated and discharged from these industries has also increased. Phytoremediation provides eco-friendly, low cost treatment approach for the waste water treatment. In the current study aquatic macrophytes Eichornia and Lemna were taken in account individually and in combination. A wetland approach was used for the treatment of effluent (waste water) from Parag Dairy and Milk processing plant, Meerut. Effluent was then transferred to glass aquarium and analysed for Physico-chemical parameters viz. Temp., pH, Turbidity. The initial parameters of the raw waste water were recorded Temp 25.34oC, pH 5.8, Turbidity 648 NTU. After the treatment, 75 % removal of turbidity was recorded in case of Eichornia (486 NTU), while Lemna showed a potential of 54 % removal (350 NTU) of turbidity.