Morpho-physiological analysis of aquatic plants for phytoremediation of wastewater from gold mine wastewater treatment installation (IPAL)

Abstract

Several types of aquatic plants have a potential role in reducing pollutants from contaminated water through phytoremediation processes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the capacity of aquatic plants in phytoremediation process of cyanide and heavy metals from gold mine liquid waste, based on the growth and heavy metal deposition in the root and shoot. The study was conducted using a completely randomized design with two factors, i.e., the concentration of gold-mine wastewater (0%, 50%, and 100%) and the combination of two aquatic plants from 4 species (Eichhornia crassipes, Neomarica longifolia, Hydrilla verticillata, and Pistia stratiotes). The results showed that gold mine wastewater generally reduced the growth rate of all the plants, especially at 100% wastewater concentration. The treatment with gold mine wastewater caused an increase in lipid peroxidation specified by the increase of root and leaf MDA content, while it decreases leaf chlorophyll content significantly. The best combination of aquatic plants for gold mine phytoremediation was shown by N. longifolia – P. Stratiotes based on the smallest dry weight reduction and the greatest reduction of cyanide, Pb and Hg from the media.