Effect of Artemia on the Reduction of Alkali Metals from the Distillery Effluent

Abstract

Abstract
The present study evaluates the feasibility of using Artemia as a bioaccumulator in reducing toxic concentrates of the distillery effluent collected from the industrial area, near Chennai. Generally, the distillery effluent contains a very high amount of alkali metals (Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium). Artemia being an efficient environmental adapter was able to thrive in the distillery effluent for 72 h. The physico-chemical parameters such as pH, salinity of the distillery effluent are determined before and after the treatment. After the treatment, slight increase was observed in the pH (10.26 ±0.15) and salinity (10 ppt) compared to the control (pH 9.7 ±0.2, salinity 5 ppt). This suggests the invariable use of Artemia in the treatment of distillery effluent to reduce total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity. The percent reduction of alkali metals by 24 h Artemia Nauplii was greater compared to the 48 and 72 h nauplii. The greater reduction by 24 h Artemia Nauplii could be probably due to the formation of the anal opening in the later stage. The percent of alkali metals (Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium) reduced by 24 h Artemia Nauplii was found to be 34.71, 50.09, 54.11 and 42.61%, respectively.
Keywords: Alkali metals, Artemia cyst, Artemia nauplii, Bioaccumulation, Distillery effluent