Abstract
This research focused on a phytoremediation system used for treating sewage. We uniquely developed a "cascade type sewage purification system using plants" with Alocasia odora and filtering materials, and examined its purification and biomass productivity. By conducting purification experiments with livestock and carp aquaculture sewage, we observed that the system had a low removal performance for phosphorus, but had a high removal performance for nitrogen. For a 400-L water tank, the allowable number of carp was calculated to be between 110 and 215 fish, at 48g per fish. The growth of Alocasia odora was most remarkable in zeolite filtering material. The "cascade type system" sets Alocasia odora and filtering materials on the surface of the water tank, and circulates wastewater three dimensionally through the plant roots and filtering material. As a result, the system achieved efficient purification and space efficiency, and energy saving is expected.