Reduction of hydrocarbon pollutants by hyacinth plants (Eichhornia crassipes)

Abstract

Background: The application of phytoremediation by utilizing plants has been used to control oil pollution in waters. One of the plants that can act as a phytoremediator is the hyacinth because this plant can reduce various pollutants including petroleum hydrocarbons. This study aims to study the reduction ability of petroleum hydrocarbons at different concentrations including improving water quality. Methods: This research used an experimental method implementing a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with one factor, namely TPH concentration with five treatment levels and three replications. The treatments were as follows E1 (10 mg/L), E2 (30 mg/L), E3 (50 mg/L), E4 (70 mg/L), and E5 (90 mg/L), and E0 (control) was carried out only at the highest concentration (90 mg/L), aiming to see whether there was a TPH reduction process without plants. Maintenance of water hyacinth was carried out in media with salinity (3 ppt). Observations were made for 14 days, with measurements of TPH and leaf chlorophyll content observed at D-1, D-7 and D-14. While water quality parameters such as temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen were observed every 2 days Results: The results showed that the hyacinth plant was able to reduce hydrocarbon in terms of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) by 79% while it was only between 17–27% naturally without the hyacinth. The reduction of TPH in the water was in line with the decrease of chlorophyll in the leaves of hyacinths, and it was followed by the increase of dissolved oxygen in the water media. Conclusions: In conclusion, hyacinths can reduce petroleum hydrocarbons and they can improve the water quality as well. Futhermore, water hyacinth which are commonly found in freshwater can be used as phytoremediatiors in coastal area; its application in coastal areas requires futher study