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Evaluation of Phytoremediation Potential of an Aquatic Macrophyte ( Eichhornia crassipes ) in Wastewater Treatment

Author

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  • Shahbaz Rasool

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari-Campus, Vehari 61100, Pakistan)

  • Iftikhar Ahmad

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari-Campus, Vehari 61100, Pakistan)

  • Aftab Jamal

    (Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar 25130, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Farhan Saeed

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari-Campus, Vehari 61100, Pakistan)

  • Ali Zakir

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari-Campus, Vehari 61100, Pakistan)

  • Ghulam Abbas

    (Centre for Climate Research and Development, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan)

  • Mahmoud F. Seleiman

    (Department of Plant Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Andrés Caballero-Calvo

    (Department of Regional Geographical Analysis and Physical Geography, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain)

Abstract

Wastewater generation is a major concern, as most of it goes untreated. Industries, urban areas, and agriculture are the major contributors to wastewater. Phytoremediation is an effective method of wastewater treatment. However, the potential of local aquatic species for hyper-accumulation of heavy metals remains elusive. This study focuses on evaluating the native macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes for phytoremediation potential in different source-based water environments: freshwater (FW), industrial (IW), and urban wastewater (UW). Physico-chemical analysis was conducted on water samples (five samples from each source) along with the corresponding E. crassipes plants for assessing physiological, nutritional, and heavy metal parameters. The results showed distinct characteristics among the water sources. The FW had a high pH, and the IW exhibited elevated levels of electrical conductivity (EC: 1746 μS cm −1 ), total dissolved solids (TDS: 864 mg L −1 ), chloride (Cl − : 557.83 mg L −1 ), sulfate (SO 4 − : 137.27 mg L −1 ), and calcium (Ca ++ : 77.83 mg L −1 ) ions. The UW exhibited high bicarbonate (HCO 3 − : 123.38 mg L −1 ), sodium (Na + : 154 mg L −1 ), and potassium (K + : 37.12 mg L −1 ) ions. The Cd contamination exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) limits (0.003 mg L −1 ) in the FW (0.05 mg L −1 in FW-5) and UW (0.05 mg L −1 in UW-3); Cr contamination was higher than the permissible limits of the WHO, National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), and the European Union (EU) (0.05 mg L −1 ) in FW, IW, and UW; arsenic (As) in IW exceeded the WHO, United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and EU limits of 10 μg L −1 , and Pb in UW exceeded the WHO (0.01 mg L −1 ), NEQS (0.05 mg L −1 ), and EU (0.01 mg L −1 ) limits. E. crassipes displayed different traits depending on the water sources. FW-grown plants had a higher biomass and chlorophyll-b content, while UW-grown plants had higher photosynthesis rates and chlorophyll-a content. Shoots accumulated more Na + , K + , and Ca ++ ions than roots. Metal translocation from roots to shoots followed specific patterns for each source: the TFs of Zn = 3.62 in FW > Cd = 2.34 in UW > Cr = 1.61 and Pb = 1.29 in IW and BCFs were found in ascending order: Zn > Ni > Cd > As > Pb in FW, Cd > Zn > Ni > Cr > Pb > As in IW, and Cd > Ni > Pb > Cr > Zn > As in UW. The bioconcentration factor was higher in the roots than in the shoots. These findings suggest that E. crassipes shows promise as a phytoremediation option for heavy metal-contaminated wastewater due to its ability to thrive in harsh wastewater conditions with a higher TF > 1 and BCF > 1. Therefore, the utilization of these macrophytes holds potential for wastewater treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • Shahbaz Rasool & Iftikhar Ahmad & Aftab Jamal & Muhammad Farhan Saeed & Ali Zakir & Ghulam Abbas & Mahmoud F. Seleiman & Andrés Caballero-Calvo, 2023. "Evaluation of Phytoremediation Potential of an Aquatic Macrophyte ( Eichhornia crassipes ) in Wastewater Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-16, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:11533-:d:1202513
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Muhammad Umar Hayyat & Rab Nawaz & Ali Irfan & Sami A. Al-Hussain & Mehlil Aziz & Zafar Siddiq & Sajjad Ahmad & Magdi E. A. Zaki, 2023. "Evaluating the Phytoremediation Potential of Eichhornia crassipes for the Removal of Cr and Li from Synthetic Polluted Water," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Muhammad Sarim & Tayyab Jan & Seema Anjum Khattak & Adil Mihoub & Aftab Jamal & Muhammad Farhan Saeed & Somayeh Soltani-Gerdefaramarzi & Saadia Rashid Tariq & Manuel Pulido Fernández & Roberto Mancine, 2022. "Assessment of the Ecological and Health Risks of Potentially Toxic Metals in Agricultural Soils from the Drosh-Shishi Valley, Pakistan," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Tolulope E. Aniyikaiye & Temilola Oluseyi & John O. Odiyo & Joshua N. Edokpayi, 2019. "Physico-Chemical Analysis of Wastewater Discharge from Selected Paint Industries in Lagos, Nigeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Iftikhar Ahmad & Abdul Ghaffar & Ali Zakir & Zia Ul Haq Khan & Muhammad Farhan Saeed & Atta Rasool & Aftab Jamal & Adil Mihoub & Simone Marzeddu & Maria Rosaria Boni, 2022. "Activated Biochar Is an Effective Technique for Arsenic Removal from Contaminated Drinking Water in Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, November.
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    1. Rastegaripour, Fatemeh & Tavassoli, Abolfazl & Babaeian, Mahdi & Fernández-Gálvez, Jesús & Caballero-Calvo, Andrés, 2024. "Assessing the impacts of climate change on water resource management and crop patterns in Eastern Iran," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).

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