Green Remediation Strategy Using Azolla pinnata: Heavy Metals Removal and Waste Water Ultra-Purification | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||
| Volume 29, Issue 6, November and December 2025, Pages 17-38 PDF (606.61 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2025.428564.6695 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Noha Abdelwahab* 1; Amira Faysal2; Marzouka Shaban3; Asmaa A. Amin3; Seham Moussa Hamed4 | ||
| 1Department of microbiology, Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (ARC). | ||
| 2Beni-Suef Water and Sanitation Company, a subsidiary of the holding company of water and sanitation, Egypt | ||
| 3Beni-Suef Water and Sanitation Company, a subsidiary of the holding company of water and sanitation, Egypt. | ||
| 4Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), P. O. Box: 90950, Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Phytoremediation using aquatic macrophytes is a scalable and affordable technique. Hereby, this study aims to determine the potential of Azolla pinnata to enhance the chemical and biological properties of treated municipal wastewater from the Beni-Suef treatment plant, Dandil, as well as its capacity for heavy metal removal at two dilution ratios (25% and 50%). The propagation of A. pinnata for 14 days significantly increased pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and total Kjeldahl's nitrogen in two tested concentrations, particularly at 50% by 8.5, 632.9, 627.7 and 1620%, respectively. However, the count of coliform bacteria was significantly decreased to less than 180 CFU/100 ml at 25 and 50% treatments. Water analysis showed that A. pinnata significantly decreased the concentration of Pb, Cu, Ni, Cr, Zn, and B. Biomass analysis implied differential affinity of heavy metals uptake and removal efficiency by A. pinnata biomass which is typically higher at 25% concentration. A 50% dilution ratio resulted in removal efficiencies of Ni (88.7%), Cu (30%), Pb (24%), Cr (17.2%), B (14.5%), and Zn (11.4%), whereas a 25% dilution ratio showed removal efficiencies of Cr (100%), Ni (82%), Cu (74%), Zn (68.5%), Pb (30%), and B (20.8%). Compared to 50% dilution, the use of 25% significantly increased fresh weight (230 g) and relative growth rate (and 0.043 g/day), and achieved the shortest doubling ~ 6 days after 14 days of growth. A. pinnata may serve as an effective and reliable phytoremediator for municipal wastewater, and its biomass could be a sustainable biorefinery platform for various biofuel industries. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Azolla pinnata; Phytoremediation; Heavy metal; Municipal wastewater; Water quality; Biofuel production | ||
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