Performance of aquatic plant species for phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated water

• Published in: Applied water science Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 889 - 896
• Main Authors: Jasrotia, Shivakshi, Kansal, Arun, Mehra, Aradhana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-05-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Chlorodesmis; Cladophora; Comparative Law; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Eichhornia crassipes; Freshwater; Hydrogeology; Industrial and Production Engineering; International & Foreign Law; Nanotechnology; Original Article; Private International Law; Waste Water Technology; Water Industry/Water Technologies; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water treatment for arsenic removal; Water hyacinth; Algae; Phytoremediation
• ISSN: 2190-5487; 2190-5495
• DOI: 10.1007/s13201-015-0300-4

This study investigates the effectiveness of aquatic macrophyte and microphyte for phytoremediation of water bodies contaminated with high arsenic concentration. Water hyacinth (
Eichhornia crassipes)
and two algae (
Chlorodesmis
sp. and
Cladophora
sp.) found near arsenic-enriched water bodies were used to determine their tolerance toward arsenic and their effectiveness to uptake arsenic thereby reducing organic pollution in arsenic-enriched wastewater of different concentrations. Parameters like pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and arsenic concentration were monitored. The pH of wastewater during the course of phytoremediation remained constant in the range of 7.3–8.4, whereas COD reduced by 50–65 % in a period of 15 days.
Cladophora
sp. was found to survive up to an arsenic concentration of 6 mg/L, whereas water hyacinth and
Chlorodesmis
sp. could survive up to arsenic concentrations of 2 and 4 mg/L, respectively. It was also found that during a retention period of 10 days under ambient temperature conditions,
Cladophora
sp. could bring down arsenic concentration from 6 to <0.1 mg/L,
Chlorodesmis
sp. was able to reduce arsenic by 40−50 %; whereas, water hyacinth could reduce arsenic by only 20 %.
Cladophora
sp. is thus suitable for co-treatment of sewage and arsenic-enriched brine in an algal pond having a retention time of 10 days. The identified plant species provides a simple and cost-effective method for application in rural areas affected with arsenic problem. The treated water can be used for irrigation.