Abstract
In the present study, effect of produced water on the growth of Azolla pinnata was observed and the phytoremediating ability of the plant was also exploited. A. pinnata was grown in produced water concentrations of 0% (control), 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. The plant exhibited reduced growth rate in a concentration dependent order. Toxicity symptoms of produced water on the plant include chlorosis, frond disintegration and eventual death. Produced water exposure resulted in less than 20% growth inhibition in 5- 15 % treatment concentrations. The optimum removal efficiency concentration of produced water by A. pinnata was at 10- 20%. It was revealed that A. pinnata has low potential for improving the quality of produced water at high concentrations. This study exposed the need for proper produced water treatment and strict monitoring to ensure compliance with standards set by regulatory bodies before its discharge to surface water to mitigate the environmental impacts.Key Words: produced water, heavy metal, aquatic macrophytes.
Highlights
Petroleum is a major source of revenue for many countries and its production has been described as one of the most significant in the twenty-first century (Oliveira et al, 2005)
The ecological health of many river systems is threatened by the numerous inorganic and organic constituents dissolved in the produced water and the accumulation of these contaminants in the aquatic environments
The relative amount of hydrocarbon contributed to the aquatic environment by oilfield produced water is so small, the numerous inorganic and organic constituents dissolved in the produced water can be potentially or far more hazardous than the crude oil itself (Pritchard 1979)
Summary
Petroleum is a major source of revenue for many countries and its production has been described as one of the most significant in the twenty-first century (Oliveira et al, 2005). Petroleum is produced with large volume of water, with wastewater accounting for more than 80 % of liquid waste (Azetsu- Scott et al, 2007), as high as 95 % in aged oilfields (Kaur et al, 2009). Produced or formation water is water from underground formations brought to the surface during oil or gas production. The ecological health of many river systems is threatened by the numerous inorganic and organic constituents dissolved in the produced water and the accumulation of these contaminants in the aquatic environments. The relative amount of hydrocarbon contributed to the aquatic environment by oilfield produced water is so small, the numerous inorganic and organic constituents dissolved in the produced water can be potentially or far more hazardous than the crude oil itself (Pritchard 1979). Unlike oil which forms a slick, produced water readily mixes with flowing water after discharge (Collins, 1980)
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