The enhanced removal and phytodegradation of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in wastewater using controllable water hyacinth

Abstract

Surfactant is an emerging and popular pollutant in both rural and urban areas and its treatment efficacy by phytoremediation is rarely reported. Water hyacinth was utilized to clean anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in water and its growth and physiological activities were regulated with Chromolaena odorata L. extract. SDS was effectively removed from the water and then transferred to both root and aerial part of water hyacinth. Part of SDS was converted into low-molecular weight degradation intermediates by the hydrogen abstraction reactions in water hyacinth. The removal efficiency and the degradation of SDS were evidently strengthened accompanying with enhanced root activity and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity in the presence of Chromolaena odorata L. extract. Meanwhile, the growth of water hyacinth was effectively controlled, exhibiting low-growth rate (≤0.036 g.day−1). Furthermore, the root was considered as the major organ to degrade SDS, which was correlated to the remarkable increase in APX activity and a slight increase in root activity under both SDS and extract stress. In conclusion, water hyacinth managed with Chromolaena odorata L. extract should be proposed as an eco-friendly biotechnical treatment for the surfactant.