Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from textile wastewater by soilless culture of Lolium multiflorum

A technique of soilless culture for removal of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) from textile wastewater using Lolium multiflorum was conducted in this research. The TN concentration decreased from 50.72 mg/L to 24.64–27.89 mg/L and TP decreased from 6.9 mg/L to 3.7–4.1 mg/L in the experimental tank with the size of 4.7 m x 1.2 m x 0.75 m. The results suggested that L. multiflorum could absorb a large amount of N and P elements from the wastewater. This technique of soilless culture has many advantages such as simple equipment, low cost, easy operation, low energy consumption, convenient management and flexible disposition.