Assessment of the Phytoremediation Potential of Salvinia minima Baker Compared to Spirodela polyrrhiza in High-strength Organic Wastewater

Author： Olguín Eugenia Sánchez-Galván Gloria Pérez-Pérez Teresa

Publisher： Springer Publishing Company

ISSN： 0049-6979

Source： Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, Vol.181, Iss.1-4, 2007-05, pp. : 135-147

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Abstract

Salvinia minima combines several advantages for being used in aquatic phytoremediation. The objectives of this work were to compare the growth kinetics and productivity of S. minima and Spirodela polyrrhiza in high-strength synthetic organic wastewater (HSWW) and to evaluate the growth characteristics of S. minima in various culture media, including anaerobic effluents from pig wastewater (PWAE). It was found that the Relative Growth Rate (RGR) of S. minima was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared="" to="" the="" rgr="" of="">S. polyrrhiza in Hutner Medium (HM) and in HSWW. Also, S. minima showed a 1.5 fold productivity and a 2.3 fold productivity, compared to S. polyrrhiza in HM and HSWW, respectively. Diauxic growth of S. minima was observed preferentially under pH control and there was a simultaneous consumption of two nitrogen sources. Productivity of S. minima was similar in pig waste anaerobic effluents (PWAE) and in HM without ammonium nitrate and amended with ammonium sulphate (MHM + AS), at an initial NH₄ concentration of 35 mg l⁻¹. Above this level, the productivity was found to decrease as the initial ammonium concentration increased, in both media. Growth was completely inhibited at 140 mg l⁻¹ in the PWAE. In summary, S. minima is a better option than S. polyrrhiza for treating high-strength organic wastewater and lagoons should be operated at a maximum initial ammonium–nitrogen concentration of 70 mg l⁻¹ and at a pH of 5.0 or 6.0. Likewise, the initial density should be maintained in the range of 7 to 15 g dw m⁻².