Assessment of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) as bio-accumulator of contaminants in domestic wastewater of Makera and Chanchaga drains

Abstract

Remediation of the contaminants in domestic wastewater with Bio-accumulators is gaining acceptance in most part of the world. This study analysed the bio-accumulation of the contaminants in the domestic wastewater of Makera and Chanchaga drains in Nigeria by the Eichhornia crassipes. The wastewater and the tap water (control) were subjected to treatment with Eichhornia crassipes. The Physicochemical parameters of the samples were analysed using portable YSI 556 digital multi sensor Probe, and the plant samples were digested and tested for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results obtained indicated that the pH decreased in the Makera (8.47-7.55) and Chanchaga drains (7.73-7.57) while the Control sample shows an increment (6.59-7.56). The conductivity of the samples decreases in Control samples (90-19μS/cm), Chanchaga (110- 40μS/cm) and Makera drains (1510-1170μS/cm) respectively. The temperature also decreases in Chanchaga (32-28oC), Makera (31-28oC) and Control sample (28-26oC). The Initial and Final values of the analysed metals were Lead (0.017- 0.007mg/l and 0.017 - 0.000mg/l), Iron (8.600 - 4.714mg/l and 9.000 - 6.143mg/l), Copper (7.600 - 2.350mg/l and 7.350 - 2.100mg/l), Zinc(0.614l-0.281mg/l and 0.614-0.200mg/l),Chromium(0.086 - 0.073mg/l and 0.080 - 0.067mg/l), Mn(0.024 - 2.975mg/l and 0.024 - 0.525mg/l) for Makera and Chanchanga drains. The Control sample has Zn(0.329 and 0.025mg/l), Pb(0.006 and 0.000mg/l), Cu(0.350 and 0.100mg/l), Fe(3.286 and 0.186mg/l), Cr(0.000 and 0.000mg/l), Mn(0.024 and 0.70mg/l). The roots exhibited the highest bio-accumulation of the heavy metals. Thus, Eichhornia crassipes through rhizol-filtration can be used as bio-accumulator of toxic heavy metals from wastewater sources.