generated from domestic premises (Sinha et al. 2008). Arora et al. (2014) reported
that COD and BOD are being removed off at the rate of 76% and 67%, respectively,
from domestic premises when being treated using earthworm species Eisenia fetida.
Xing et al. (2010) also observed the removal efficiencies of about 47.3–64.7%,
54.7–66%, 7.6–15%, and 2–62% against their influent COD, BOD, TN, and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), respectively. Wang et al. (2016) stated that the use of
vermifilter in the treatment of domestic wastewater has resulted in the BOD, COD,
and SS removal efficiencies up to 84%, 81%, and 94%, respectively. Liu et al. (2013)
also stated that using ceramsite as filter media during the treatment of rural domestic
sewage has removal efficiencies of COD, BOD, and NH4+-N up to 67.6%, 78%, and
92.1%, respectively. According to Furlong et al. (2014, 2015), human feces can also
be treated through vermifiltration.
Initially, vermifilters were applied to the treatment of the effluents generated from
the domestic premises, but recently the use of vermifiltration has now been extended
to the industrial context. However, the application of vermifiltration has been very
limited to industrial wastewaters as earthworms have sensitivity toward high salinity,
pH, heavy metals, and pesticides. A high concentration of these pollutants may turn
out to reduce the efficiency and productivity of earthworms. In case of extreme
concentrations, it may even be lethal to the earthworms. For example, according to
Oste et al. (2001), the combination of heavy metals or a high concentration of heavy
metals has a detrimental impact on earthworm’s life cycle and productivity. In
addition, according to Hughes et al. (2008), a high concentration of sodium salts
causes an imbalance in the osmotic regulation of earthworms. Despite its high
sensitivity, the application of vermifilter has exhibited overall good performance,
and the results are encouraging to extend its application for many other industries
also. According to Sinha et al. (2012), the average BOD, COD, and TDS removals
were 90%, 60–80%, and 90–95%, respectively, on petroleum wastewater through
vermifiltration. Dhadse et al. (2010) reported that a high retention time of 2 days
resulted in BOD and COD removal efficiencies of up to 89.77–96.26% and
85.44–94.48%, respectively, on pharmaceutical wastewater. The introduction of
earthworms can reduce the emission of NH3, N2O, and CH4 and can also be
attributed to the reduction in denitrification through the dampening of anaerobic
activities (Luth et al. 2011). Li et al. (2008) supported this report in another study.
The dairy wastewater generally consists of organic molecules like carbohydrates
(lactose), proteins (casein), and fats. The presence of the above composition in
wastewater and its decomposition generates an obnoxiously odorous black sludge
that has been proved to be lethal to many aquatic living beings. With the help of
vermifiltration, it has also been applied successfully in treating wastewaters from the
dairy industries. Sinha et al. (2007) reported that vermifiltration of dairy wastewater
can remove BOD, COD, and solids efficiently up to 98%, 80–90%, and 90–95%,
respectively. According to Merlin and Cottin (2009), 80–88% of organics and
70–80% of nutrients were removed from a compost biofilter containing earthworms
in cheese whey industry effluent. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) was treated using
earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae by mixing it with the substrates of soil with rice straw
in varying ratios (Lim et al. 2014). Singh et al. (2019a) applied horizontal flow
6 Vermitechnology: A Sustainable Approach in the Management of Solid and Liquid. . .
99
that COD and BOD are being removed off at the rate of 76% and 67%, respectively,
from domestic premises when being treated using earthworm species Eisenia fetida.
Xing et al. (2010) also observed the removal efficiencies of about 47.3–64.7%,
54.7–66%, 7.6–15%, and 2–62% against their influent COD, BOD, TN, and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), respectively. Wang et al. (2016) stated that the use of
vermifilter in the treatment of domestic wastewater has resulted in the BOD, COD,
and SS removal efficiencies up to 84%, 81%, and 94%, respectively. Liu et al. (2013)
also stated that using ceramsite as filter media during the treatment of rural domestic
sewage has removal efficiencies of COD, BOD, and NH4+-N up to 67.6%, 78%, and
92.1%, respectively. According to Furlong et al. (2014, 2015), human feces can also
be treated through vermifiltration.
Initially, vermifilters were applied to the treatment of the effluents generated from
the domestic premises, but recently the use of vermifiltration has now been extended
to the industrial context. However, the application of vermifiltration has been very
limited to industrial wastewaters as earthworms have sensitivity toward high salinity,
pH, heavy metals, and pesticides. A high concentration of these pollutants may turn
out to reduce the efficiency and productivity of earthworms. In case of extreme
concentrations, it may even be lethal to the earthworms. For example, according to
Oste et al. (2001), the combination of heavy metals or a high concentration of heavy
metals has a detrimental impact on earthworm’s life cycle and productivity. In
addition, according to Hughes et al. (2008), a high concentration of sodium salts
causes an imbalance in the osmotic regulation of earthworms. Despite its high
sensitivity, the application of vermifilter has exhibited overall good performance,
and the results are encouraging to extend its application for many other industries
also. According to Sinha et al. (2012), the average BOD, COD, and TDS removals
were 90%, 60–80%, and 90–95%, respectively, on petroleum wastewater through
vermifiltration. Dhadse et al. (2010) reported that a high retention time of 2 days
resulted in BOD and COD removal efficiencies of up to 89.77–96.26% and
85.44–94.48%, respectively, on pharmaceutical wastewater. The introduction of
earthworms can reduce the emission of NH3, N2O, and CH4 and can also be
attributed to the reduction in denitrification through the dampening of anaerobic
activities (Luth et al. 2011). Li et al. (2008) supported this report in another study.
The dairy wastewater generally consists of organic molecules like carbohydrates
(lactose), proteins (casein), and fats. The presence of the above composition in
wastewater and its decomposition generates an obnoxiously odorous black sludge
that has been proved to be lethal to many aquatic living beings. With the help of
vermifiltration, it has also been applied successfully in treating wastewaters from the
dairy industries. Sinha et al. (2007) reported that vermifiltration of dairy wastewater
can remove BOD, COD, and solids efficiently up to 98%, 80–90%, and 90–95%,
respectively. According to Merlin and Cottin (2009), 80–88% of organics and
70–80% of nutrients were removed from a compost biofilter containing earthworms
in cheese whey industry effluent. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) was treated using
earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae by mixing it with the substrates of soil with rice straw
in varying ratios (Lim et al. 2014). Singh et al. (2019a) applied horizontal flow
6 Vermitechnology: A Sustainable Approach in the Management of Solid and Liquid. . .
99