Abstract
The protection and reasonable use of freshwater is one of the main goals for our future, as water is most important for all organisms on earth including humans. Due to pollution, not only with xenobiotics, but also with nutrients, the status of our water bodies has changed drastically. Excess nutrient load induces eutrophication processes and, as a result, massive cyanobacterial blooms during the summer times. As cyanobacteria are known to produce several toxic secondary metabolites, the so-called cyanotoxins, exhibiting hepato-, neuro- and cell-toxicity, a potential risk is given, when using this water. There is an urgent need to have a water purification system, which is able to cope with these natural toxins. Using aquatic plants as a Green Liver, the Green Liver System?, was developed, able to remove these natural pollutants. To test the ability of the Green Liver System?, several cyanobacterial toxins including artificial and natural mixtures were tested in a small-scale laboratory system. The results showed that within 7 - 14 days a combination of different aquatic macrophytes was able to remove a given toxin amount (10 μg·L-1) by 100%. The phytoremediation technology behind the Green Liver Systems? uses the simple ability of submerged aquatic plants to uptake, detoxify and store the toxins, without formation and release of further metabolites to the surrounding water.
Highlights
Water covers our planet by roughly 70%, but most of it is saline
Microcystins (Hepatotoxins) Monitoring the distribution of MC-LR with the Green Liver System® showed a decrease of this toxin congener during the first day by more than 50% in the water phase with a continued decrease on day 3 (Figure 4(a))
The toxin content in the plants was well measureable after the 14 days, showing the highest concentration in C. demersum, followed by M. spicatum and E. canadensis
Summary
Water covers our planet by roughly 70%, but most of it is saline. The amount of freshwater on our planet is only 2.5% - 2.75% including frozen water, such as snow, ice and glaciers (1.75% - 2.0%), and not immediately available, as well as 0.7% - 0.8% as groundwater and soil moisture [1].The access to clean water is a very critical issue for the survival of all living organisms on earth, especially humans. The amount of freshwater on our planet is only 2.5% - 2.75% including frozen water, such as snow, ice and glaciers (1.75% - 2.0%), and not immediately available, as well as 0.7% - 0.8% as groundwater and soil moisture [1]. As freshwater is a renewable but limited resource on earth, it is necessary to take special care on it. The natural way to renew freshwater is the water cycle, via evaporation, cloud formation and precipitation as rainfall. Looking at freshwater as a limited source, tools need to be developed to purify water in a sustainable and reliable way. One of these possible ways is the use of Green Liver Systems®, using the phytoremediation potential of aquatic submerged plants
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