Schoenoplectus americanus as a potential phytoremediator: in vitro assessment of its ability to remove contaminants in domestic and tannery wastewater

Abstract

Growing industrialization and urbanization have led to increased water pollution due to theinadequate treatment and disposal of domestic wastewater (DW) and wastewater produced byindustries such as tanneries (TW). These wastewaters are characterized by high concentrationsof organic matter, nutrients, sulphates, chlorides and high microbial load. TW also containsphenols and chromium, which disturb and harm the ecosystem the local. The decontaminationof wastewater prior to their discharge through biological tools, especially the use of species thatare native to the site in need of treatment, has been described as effective and advantageous.This study evaluated the ability of Schoenoplectus americanus, a native plant species fromCordoba (Argentina), to phytoremediate local DW and TW samples at a laboratory scale. Theaim was to ascertain whether this system could potentially be considered for the remediation ofwastewater in real-world scenarios. S. americanus was able to tolerate pure DW and a 1/20 (v/v)dilution of TW for 30 days under hydroponic conditions. Removal rates ranging from 50% to89% were obtained for residual organic matter (determined as chemical oxygen demand orCOD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Significant removal of total chromium (TCr)and total phenols (TPhs) was also observed in TW (85% and 98%). The number of totalcoliforms (TC), was reduced by about 96% and 99%. These results indicate that S. americanus isa good candidate for the phytoremediation of regional DW and TW. For this reason, it may beconsidered for full-scale applications in the future.