Phytoremediation potential of aquatic macrophyte Azolla caroliniana with references to zinc plating effluent

Abstract

The effect of zinc plating industrial effluent on some biochemical parameters and the phytoremedial capacity of floating aquatic macrophyte Azolla caroliniana was assessed. The effects of increasing zinc concentrations on growth characteristics of A. caroliniana namely root length, leaf area and biomass production were studied. The root growth of A. caroliniana was severely affected at higher concentration of zinc effluent (especially at 3% and 4%). Overall slight fluctuations in the moisture content represent the favorable nature of this essential micronutrient especially at 1% and 2% concentration. Maximum chlorophyll contents were observed at 2% concentration of the effluent with an increase by 41.29% over the control. The least amount of carotenoid was observed at 4% concentration. Values for biological oxygen demand were decreased in the effluent concentration of 2% while the decrease in chemical oxygen demand was maximum in the same effluent concentration after 10 days treatment period. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]