Institutional Repository
Technical University of Crete
EN  |  EL

Search

Browse

My Space

The role of halophyte juncus acutus L. in the remediation of mixed contamination in a hydroponic greenhouse experiment

Christofilopoulos Stavros, Syranidou Evdokia, Gavrou Georgia, Manousaki Eleni, Kalogerakis Nikos

Full record


URI: http://purl.tuc.gr/dl/dias/B8B1BFE7-B8A3-4BE1-8449-5506B3E10F31
Year 2016
Type of Item Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication
License
Details
Bibliographic Citation S. Christofilopoulos, E. Syranidou, G. Gkavrou, E. Manousaki and N. Kalogerakis, "The role of halophyte juncus acutus L. in the remediation of mixed contamination in a hydroponic greenhouse experiment," J. Chem. Technol. Biot., vol. 91, no. 6, pp. 1665-1674, Jun. 2016. doi: 10.1002/jctb.4939 https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.4939
Appears in Collections

Summary

Emerging organic contaminants include a large group of compounds that are frequently detected in wastewater along with heavy metals, due to incomplete removal or limitations in conventional and advanced treatment processes. In this work, the efficiency of Juncus acutus L. on the removal of mixed contamination; ciprofloxacin (CIP), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), bisphenol A (BPA) and heavy metals (chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn)), was investigated in a hydroponic experiment in order to evaluate its potential for use in the alternative remediation technology of constructed wetland (CW) systems. Concentrations of the compounds ranged from μg L-1 to well beyond environmentally relevant values (50 mg L-1 for the organics and more than 1000 mg L-1 in the case of Zn and Cr). RESULTS: Antibiotics (CIP and SMX), BPA and heavy metals were efficiently removed after 28 days, without J. acutus exhibiting perceptible phytotoxicity symptoms, in concentrations even higher than those that are generally detected in industrial or hospital wastewater. Extremely high concentrations of heavy metals induced severe physiological damage to the plants. CONCLUSION: The remarkable efficiency of the halophyte J. acutus was revealed, regarding all the contaminants tested at environmentally relevant concentrations. In higher concentrations of antibiotics and mixtures of organic and inorganic contaminants, the contribution of the plant was also demonstrated. Findings from this work suggest that J. acutus plants are an ideal candidate for phytoremediation applications in CW systems, targeting urban, industrial or pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.

Services

Statistics