Phytoremediation Potential of Aquatic Plants in Polluted Water Bodies

Abstract

The present study investigated the pollutant removal efficiency of five common aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia crassipes, Lemna minor, Pistia stratiotes, Typha latifolia and Phragmites australis—against selected physicochemical and heavy-metal parameters in laboratory mesocosm experiments over a 30-day exposure period. Influent water samples were collected from an agriculturally-impacted lake and a peri-urban drain. Results demonstrated statistically significant reductions (p < 0.05) in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD, 77.3%), chemical oxygen demand (COD, 76.1%), total nitrogen (77.4%), total phosphorus (80.6%), and heavy metals including lead (89.0%) and cadmium (92.4%). E. crassipes and P. australis exhibited the highest overall removal capacities. Findings suggest that constructed wetland systems incorporating these species hold strong promise for sustainable wastewater management in developing-country contexts.