Capability of Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash) on Wastewater Treatment from Fermented Rice Noodle

Fermented rice noodle industry can generate a large volume of undesirable liquid waste into the environment. This study was conducted to investigate the ability of Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizaniodes (L.) Nash) and sedge (Cyperus corymbosus Rottb.) to treat wastewater from fermented rice noodle industry. Vetiver grass and sedge were cultured into flooding condition and used for treated wastewater (TWW) and untreated wastewater (UWW) in experiment. The results found that vetiver grass and sedge could grow well in TWW; whereas, the growth vetiver grass and sedge in UWW was slow because the vetiver grass and sedge were non-tolerant to high COD concentration of UWW in the long period of this experiment. Moreover, UWW also could decrease wastewater treatment efficiency of vetiver grass and sedge. Unlike, TWW could increase wastewater treatment efficiency in both vetiver grass and sedge leading to long period of treatment experiment. The results also found that wastewater treatment capability in both vetiver grass and sedge declined as treatment experimental period increased; however, vetiver grass performance was more stable than sedge. To achieve the water quality standard of Pollution Control Department, wastewater could be remediated up to 56 days using vetiver grass planted in soil filter system.