Performance of Aquatic Macrophytes on Removal and Accumulation of Sulfate and Potassium from Domestic Wastewater

Abstract

Phytoremediation had been well accepted worldwide as one of the most successful green technologies for domestic wastewater treatment. This technology utilizes aquatic macrophytes to remove and extract macronutrients from the domestic wastewater and accumulate them in their plant tissues. However, most of the previous studies only focused on the use of aquatic macrophytes for removing and extracting nitrogen and phosphorous components. Thus, they overlook on sulfate (SO4 2−) and potassium (K+) as one of crucial macronutrient contaminants in domestic wastewater. Moreover, studies on removal and uptake of SO4 2− and K+ from domestic wastewater and their detail distribution and storage in macrophyte tissues are very limited. Therefore this study focused on performance of aquatic macrophytes in removing SO4 2− and K+ from domestic wastewater. The accumulation and translocation of SO4 2− and K+ throughout macrophyte bodies were also determined. The phytoremediation system was designed and fabricated in the Hydrology Laboratory in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam. Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipies), Caladium (Colocasia esculenta) and Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) were used in our study to demonstrate that local macrophytes may also have higher nutrients removal or uptake than other macrophytes. The performance of macrophytes in removing and accumulating SO4 2− and K+ and their relationship were determined and reported. The results of this study are significant for sustainable approach for domestic wastewater which would satisfy towards wholly aspect of macronutrient criteria. Hence phytoremediation process becomes alternative to compete with the other green technologies for national development.