Performance of the subsurface flow constructed wetland using echinodorus palaefolius and zeolite plant media in artisanal small scale gold mining waste water

Processing of gold in artisanal small scale generally uses mercury (Hg) which is often called the process of amalgamation. The use of mercury make degradation of environmental quality especially waters due to Hg release during amalgamation process. Based on this, has been conducted research design of wastewater containing Hg treatment by utilizing simple technology and natural resources that are easily obtained. Processing technology that had established is using wetland system with subsurface flow (SSF) which contains Echinodorus palaefolius plant with zeolite planting medium. This SSF system model has dimensions of 820 mm x 320 mm x 585 mm consisting of 3 zones, namely inlet zone, reaction zone and outlet zone. In the reaction zone implanted Echinodorus palaefolius with an area of 0.0896 gr / cm² on zeolite size 4-18 mesh. The simulated Hg wastewater with concentration of 14,94 mg / L is passed with up-flow to the reaction zone using the pump. For the purposes of determining system performance, operation runs 12 hours of continuous and 12 hours of batch for 3 days. The results showed that Hg removal efficiency using STSF system reached 91.99 % so the final average concentration of Hg = 1.20 mg / L. (author)