Using Phytoremediation to Treat Industrial and Pharmaceutical Wastewater

Abstract

Phytoremediation is an economical, environmentally friendly and effective technology that uses plants to treat wastewater. This research focuses on phytoremediation of wastewater industrial and pharmaceutical. Certain fresh plant species, such as Lemna minor, Salvinia minima, Ipomoea aquatica and Centella asiatica, have been shown to decontaminate wastewater environments. For example, these plants helped reduce total suspended solids (TSS) from 50.8% to 85.6%, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) from 79.1% to 97.3% and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from 36.46% to 82% in wastewater. The exact results depend on the type of plant and its operating time. In addition, microalgae such as Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus almeriensis have been shown to be highly effective in removing heavy metals such as cadmium (57.14% in just 3 hours) and arsenic (40.7% in 3 hours). In conclusion, phytoremediation is a promising approach in the water treatment sector, particularly for industrial and pharmaceutical wastewater which is heavily contaminated with complex and toxic substances.