Potential of aquatic macrophytes and artificial floating island for removing contaminants

Abstract

Eutrophication is a major environmental issue that mankind is facing today as a result of rapid development. To reduce the eutrophication problem, we are testing an innovative artificial floating islands (AFIs) approach. AFIs include aquatic plants composed of emergent and floating macrophytes. In this experimental approach, two aquatic plants were selected to compare with the control group in order to evaluate the capacity of AFIs. These two emergent macrophytes were evaluated for a 40-day timeframe to examine their ability to purify waste water. The results showed that an AFI with purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria Linn.) and one with yellow-flowered iris (Iris wilsonii) have a strong ability to remove nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants from water bodies. The pollutant removal rates of the AFIs with purple loosestrife and yellow-flowered iris were almost over 50%. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) removal rates of the AFI with purple loosestrife were about 75%, 57%, 71%, respectively. At the same time, the COD, TN, and TP removal rates of the AFI with yellow-flowered iris were 60%, 49%, and 68%, respectively. AFIs with aeration are also a good way to remove pollutants. This study reveals that AFIs can be incorporated into wetlands to reduce the effects of water contamination and help strengthen wetland restoration.

Keywords:

• Aquatic macrophytes
• artificial island
• removal efficiency
• wetland

Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge the constructive comments made by both the reviewers and editors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [YX2013-31], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [41001024], and Doctoral Fund of the Ministry of Education [20100014120011].