Physiological responses in two aquatic plants (Ceratophyllum demersum and Lemna minor) as indicator to phytoremediation of wastewater polluted by some nitrogen compound

Abstract

The current study included evaluating the efficiency of some aquatic plants, such as " Lemna minor and Ceratophyllum demersum ", in improving the quality of the wastewater that was taken after the final treatment of the water treatment plant in Al-Almamierh through the biological treatment of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), total inorganic nitrogen and dissolved organic nitrogen in wastewater. The plants were cultivated separately in that water and in natural environmental conditions with conducting some chemical tests for the water by by collecting water samples every three days throughout the course of 24 days. The present research showed that the effectiveness of the L. minor and C. demersum plants in lowering the levels of total dissolved nitrogen. Where the "L. minor and C. demersum" plants exhibited the greatest decrease rate of about (24.12 % and  29.94%) respectively .Also current plants showed the efficiency in reducing inorganic nitrogen compounds, where both L. minor and C. demersum showed the greatest decrease rate of total inorganic nitrogen, which was about (76.25% and 73.96%)  respectively,  and recorded the highest percentage of  dissolved organic nitrogen reduction which amounted to about (30.14% and 26.33%) respectively.  Regarding the physiological state of the current plants, it is noted that both plants recorded an increase in the content of carbohydrates and proline content compared to the control, while the protein content decreased in L. minor, but increased in C. demersum plant.