Aquatic macrophyte and brewery effluent: dynamic and perspectives

Biological treatment consists on using living organisms to remove pollutes from substrates. This research aimed at evaluating and comparing the efficiency of two macrophyte species in removing polluting substances of brewery effluent, as a sustainable technologic alternative, using natural resources. The design was a system experimental in mesocosmos (open top tanks of 100 L) composed by two treatments represented by each specie (Salvinia molesta and Limnobiumlaevigatum) with four repetitions each one. For each mesocosmo, 80 L of crude effluent diluted in water at 25% was added together with 40 g of macrophyte. The experiment was conducted for 28 days with weekly collections of effluent for measuring of limnologicalvariables in laboratory. Both species was capable of clearing the water, partially eliminated the scent and significantly reduced pollution load which parameters at some point got within permitted values by current Brazilian law, but phosphorus. These macrophyte present high potential as polluting removers, beyond forming great biomass production. Their utilization in biological technologies for effluent treatments may be recommended, enabling the reuse of treated water and biomass.