The document proposes research on treating tannery effluent through a constructed wetland integrated with a microbial fuel cell. The objectives are to select indigenous plant varieties for the constructed wetland, identify factors influencing treatment efficiency, and use the microbial fuel cell to increase bacterial activity and power generation. The methodology will involve setting up two single-chamber constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell systems, one with and one without plants. Samples will be analyzed for parameters like COD. Expected outcomes include the plant-microbial fuel cell system achieving higher efficiency than the system without plants.

1. RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Treatment of Tannery effluent through Constructed wetland
integrated with microbial fuel cell
Muhammad Ali Raja

2. CONTENTS
RESEARCH
AREA
RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES
RESEARCH
BACKGROU
ND
RESEARCH
METHODOL
OGY
RESEARCH
PLAN
EXPECTED
OUTCOMES
BUDGETING
AND
EXPENSES

3. RESEARCH
AREA
• Thrust area-environment

4. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
• To select indigenous plant varieties in Pakistan and nourish them properly for use
in constructed wetland systems.
• Identify and control the environmental and processing factors such as pH,
temperature, HRT, loading rate, ensure maintenance and measure treatment
efficiency for each component of the effluent.
• Use microbial fuel cell as a green approach and a cost-effective method along with
the constructed wetlands for removing waste by increasing the bacterial activity
and ensuring the maximum generation of bioelectricity by measuring coulombic
force and internal resistance of adjusted electrodes for maximum results

5. OVERVIEW
• The leather tanning industry is one of the most ancient industries in the world.
• the effluent generated by tanneries may possess pollution-intensive complexes
which include different PH and highly concentrated BOD, COD, Suspended solids
including chromium etc. such toxins and pollutants pose a high threat to the
environment.
• Therefore, it is necessary to treat it to conserve the environment.

6. RESEARCH
BACKGROUND/
QUESTION
Different researches have been carried out which involve several
remedial processes such as.
A research was carried out at Bahir Dar University by Agegnehu et. al.
(2020) which indicated the removal of chromium from tannery
wastewater. The study involved local plant species incorporated with
vesicular basalt in an Integrated constructed wetland.
The efficiency of removal of chromium from the wastewater was
investigated. 4 pilot plant species were used in the study named Cyprus
latifolious, Typha dominggensis, pennisetum, and Echinochloa
pyramidalis. The results showed the units on ICW which were planted
with C. latifolius were highly efficient in the removal of Cr III up to
99.21%.

7. CONTD.
In another study carried out by Asha Singh
of the Department of environmental
science, University of Jammu, and
Kashmir, the treatment of tannery effluent
was carried out. This research comprised
of a two-stage treatment process.
The plants which were used for treatment
in the constructed wetland were named as
Spirodela Polyrrhiza incorporated with
chromium resistant bacterial strains

8. CONTD.
There was another study carried out in the
institute of science and technology
Katankulathur, carried out by M.
Sindhuja et. al. (2018) incorporated a
dual-chambered microbial fuel cell
incorporated with potassium dichromate.
The research aimed to reduce Cr VI to Cr
III besides with power generation.
Chromium reduction was evident as
complete Cr VI reduction was attained
within 10 days.

9. RESEARCH QUESTION
• Since a few studies are present in this context hence a question
arises
• “whether CW-MFC is suitable for treating tannery effluent?”
• And we will try to answer this question by proposing our research.

10. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
System configuration
Two Single chamber Upflow constructed wetland-Microbial
Fuel Cell (UFCW-MFC) with plant (system A) and without
plant ( system B)
Sample Location
The wastewater sample will be collected from the
Kasur Tannery Waste Management Agency (KTWMA).
Plant specie
Typha Latifolia L. plant is a native plant and is found
commonly in the municipal waste ponds across Rawalpindi
and Islamabad.
Analysis
Water will be assessed through various physicochemical
parameters, such as COD, DO, total nitrogen and chromium
pollutant using standard test methods.
Calculations Evapotranspiration, COD, Statistical analysis.

11. RESEARCH PLAN
Literature
review
Acclimatization
of plant specie
Construction
of microbial
fuel cell
Sample
collection
and testing
Post
monitoring
checks
Publication
of paper
The research plan will comprise of different steps such as methodological approach, pollution treatment,
plant species, set up of equipment, expected outcomes, and monitoring.

12. EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Constructed wetlands along with plant varieties
within Pakistan suitable for this purpose would
enhance the treatment of effluents as the exudates
of plants contain certain materials such as amino
acids and sugars which help in microbial
populations.
The microbial fuel cell can be used instead of a
battery as there is no need to recharge it. It will
indicate the current produced which will depend
on the organic matter concentration.
Single chamber microbial fuel cell and CW with plants
will prove to be more efficient as compared to the one
without plants. The merged technologies i.e.,
artificially made redox conditions in microbial fuel
cells and the natural ability of constructed wetlands
along with the indigenous plants would enhance the
operating performance of constructed wetland
technology.
Activated carbon because of its low cost and
flexibility will be more promising. As microbial
fuel cells work better under mild conditions.

13. BUDGETING
S.No Head of Expenditure Amount (Rs.)
I. Equipment
. Polyethylene plastic box (2) 2000
. Granular activated carbon 3000
. Stainless-steel mesh 2000
. Quartz sand 2000
. Copper wire 700
. Multimeter 6000
II. Traveling
. Round trip to Kasur 5,500
III. Publication 20,000
IV. Remuneration to PI (assistant professor) 59,210
V. Miscellaneous 5000
VI. Contingency 15%

14. REFERENCES
Alemu, A., Gabbiye, N., and Lemma, B. 2020. Application of Integrated Local Plant Species and Vesicular Basalt
Rock for the Treatment of Chromium in Tannery Wastewater in a Horizontal Subsurface Flow Wetland
System. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 103940.
Aslam, M.M., Malik, M., Baig, M.A., Qazi, I.A. and Iqbal, J., 2007. Treatment performances of compost-based and
gravel-based vertical flow wetlands operated identically for refinery wastewater treatment in
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Ayaz, T., Khan, S., Khan, A.Z., Lei, M. and Alam, M., 2020. Remediation of industrial wastewater using four
hydrophyte species: A comparison of individual (pot experiments) and mix plants (constructed
wetland). Journal of environmental management, 255, p.109833.
Białowiec, A., Albuquerque, A. and Randerson, P.F., 2014. The influence of evapotranspiration on vertical flow
subsurface constructed wetland performance. Ecological engineering, 67, pp.89-94.
Fang, Z., Song, H.L., Cang, N. and Li, X.N., 2015. Electricity production from Azo dye wastewater using a
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Bioelectronics, 68, pp.135-141.
Khan, S., Ahmad, I., Shah, M.T., Rehman, S. and Khaliq, A., 2009. Use of constructed wetland for the removal of
heavy metals from industrial wastewater. Journal of environmental management, 90(11), pp.3451-3457.

15. CONTD.
Oon, Y.L., Ong, S.A., Ho, L.N., Wong, Y.S., Dahalan, F.A., Oon, Y.S., Lehl, H.K. and Thung, W.E., 2016.
Synergistic effect of up-flow constructed wetland and microbial fuel cell for simultaneous wastewater
treatment and energy recovery. Bioresource technology, 203, pp.190-197.
Shahi, D.H., Eslami, H., Ehrampoosh, M.H., Ebrahimi, A., Ghaneian, M.T., Ayatollah, S. and Mozayan, M.R.,
2013. Comparing the efficiency of Cyperus alternifolius and Phragmites australis in municipal wastewater
treatment by subsurface constructed wetland. Pak J Biol Sci, 16(8), pp.379-384.
Sindhuja, M., Harinipriya, S., Bala, A. C., and Ray, A. K. 2018. Environmentally available biowastes as
substrate in microbial fuel cell for efficient chromium reduction. Journal of hazardous materials, 355, 197-
205.
Singh, A., Vyas, D., and Malaviya, P. 2016. Two-stage phyto-microremediation of tannery effluent by
Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Schleid. and chromium resistant bacteria. Bioresource technology, 216, 883-893.
Wei, J., Liang, P., Cao, X. and Huang, X., 2011. Use of inexpensive semicoke and activated carbon as
biocathode in microbial fuel cells. Bioresource technology, 102(22), pp.10431-10435.