Application of vetiver grass (Vetiveria Zizanioides L.) for organic matter removal from contaminated surface water

This study presents the vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) as a green solution for organic matter removal in contaminated surface water - a case study in Vietnam. The experiments were conducted with hydraulic loading rates (HLRs) of 500 mL/m(2)/min (T1), 1000 mL/m(2)/min (T2), and 1500 mL/m(2)/min (T3) using Vetiver grass (V) and Control (C). The findings indicated that Vetiver grass (Vetiveria Zizanioides L.) based-VFCWs model achieves a removal efficiency of 90 % for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and >80 % for chemical oxygen demand (COD). This could explain the significant contribution of aquatic plants to the VFCWs based on vertical flow characteristics. Analysis of variance showed that HLRs significantly influence the treatment efficiency of BOD5 and COD (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the quality of treated water meets standards for reuse for irrigation in agriculture. It provides an essential understanding to enhance organic removal in VFCWs and expand their applications for wastewater treatment.