Use of aquatic plants water lily (Eichhornia crassipes) and pistia (Pistia stratiotes) for the treatment of leachate Phytoremediation of leachate

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate the phytoremediation capacity of the plants E. crassipes (water lily) and P. stratiotes (pistia) exposed to water contaminated with leachates from the El Guayabo Sanitary Landfill, located in the municipality from Medellín, Veracruz, Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach: The phytoremediation trial was carried out for 21 days, with leachate diluted to 30%, 6 plants per treatment in a proportion of 3:1 (TA) and 1:1 (TB) of pistia and lily respectively.

Turbidity, nitrites and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) were determined as response variables to evaluate the removal of contaminants. To measure turbidity, a digital turbidimeter model WGZ-200 (UNT) was used according to NMX-AA-038-SCFI, 2001. Nitrites were measured according to NMX-AA-099-SCFI, 2006, and the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was carried out according to NMX-AA-030/2-SCFI, 2011.

Results: A high percentage of turbidity removal (>90%) and nitrites (>90%) was observed compared to the control. The COD reduction varied from 29.87 ± 3.90 to 31.08 ± 4.75%, unlike the control group, which was 18.80 ± 4.65%.

Limitations of the study/implications: Working with biological material involves variables that are difficult to control.

Findings/conclusions: The use of aquatic plants lily and pistia demonstrated the removal of chemical contaminants present in water contaminated with leachate. Model TB (T2) is considered the best treatment for reducing contaminants since it is significantly different from TE with respect to COD.