Phytoremediation: Investigation and Valorization of purifying power of Thalia geniculatain for Domestic Wastewater treatment

Abstract

Thalia geniculata is a widespread plant in the republic of Benin which could be valorized in domestic wastewater purification. It might help to remediate and preserve environmental pollution in Africa. Unfortunately, sufficient information’s about this plant, precisely its potential power to absorb pollutants are not available. More investigation on this plant is still needed to feel the gap of knowledge. In the present work, we have investigated Thalia geniculata’s absorption and purification power of nutrients including nitrates (NO3-), orthophosphates (PO43-) and Azote Kejedhal (NTK) in domestic wastewaters. We have compared it absorption capacity with Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth). The physicochemical characterization of the treated domestic wastewater is as follow: pH (~ 8), EC (1596 - 6515 μS/cm), nutrimental elements: NO3- (0.3 - 25 mg/L), PO43- (72.5 - 152.5 mg/L) and NTK (7.7 - 43.4 mg/L). By the end of 15 days treatment process, nutrients were considerably removed from the wastewater. The optimum removal efficiency of NO3- (93.33%) was achieved with the senior shoots (SS); while for PO43- (76.16%) and NTK (100%) were achieved with the young shoots (YS). With Eichhornia crassipes, the uptimal removal efficiencies were: NO3- (50%), PO43- (86.92%) and NTK (77.11%). As a consequence, Thalia geniculata plants possess a strong purifying power and can thus be used to purify polluted water and domestic wastewater. It was also noted that Thalia geniculata was more efficient when treating grey wastewater with high concentration of PO43-, compared to water valve with high concentration of NO3- and NTK.