Abstract
Duckweed is a group of aquatic plants with the potential of wastewater remediation and fast accumulation of biomass. The accumulated biomass, rich in cellulose, starch and protein, can be used for biofuel, bio-fertilizer, animal feed and human food. Characterization of natural biodiversity of duckweed species is essential for the germplasm preservation and various practical applications. We have collected samples of duckweed in eastern China and characterized species biodiversity by genotyping, using chloroplast (atpF-atpH and psbK-psbI spacers). Spirodela polyrhiza was revealed as a clear dominant duckweed species in all locations of the area. Other duckweed species were identified as Landoltia punctata, Lemna aequinoctialis and Lemna turionifera. Selected isolates of these four species were used in the experiments to estimate their potential in removing nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients from municipal and industrial wastewater sampled at the local sewage plants. Duckweed was able to reduce the concentration of nitrogen up to 98% and phosphorus up to 96%. The presented data demonstrates high efficiency of the local duckweed isolates for bioremediation of different types of wastewater and the great potential of duckweed for wastewater treatment when incorporated into the purification chain.
Highlights
Water supply is one of the most serious challenges faced by the world today
Selected isolates of these four species were used in the experiments to estimate their potential in removing nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients from municipal and industrial wastewater sampled at the local sewage plants
Four duckweed species used in the experiments were collected at different locations in eastern China (Figure 1)
Summary
Water supply is one of the most serious challenges faced by the world today. In many Asian countries and elsewhere, the demand for potable water doubles every 10 - 15 years due to both the rising domestic consumption and the increasing needs of industry [1] [2]. According to www.statista.com, the use of chemical fertilizers in the world in 2014 was 186.7 million metric tons, and in China it was 59.96 million metric tons, with Chinese farmers applying 70 percent more chemicals to crops compared to the world average (China’s Ministry of Agriculture). Another source of water pollutants are nutrients used in the fast growing aquaculture systems. The eutrophication of water bodies due to aquaculture wastewater is on a sharp rise during the last 20 years, at a rate of 2% - 4% per year in the Yangtze River basin and Zhujiang Delta basin [4]
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