Performance of Duckweed (Lemna minor) on different types of wastewater treatment

Abstract

The study was conducted to analyze the nutrient removal efficiency of duckweed (Lemna minor) on the different wastewaters such as municipal wastewater, sewage water and seafood processing plant wastewater. The experiment was conducted at four different dilutions such as raw water, 25%, 50% and 75% dilutions. In each experimental set up, duck weed was inoculated at the rate of 0.6 kg wet wt. /m2.The water quality parameters were analyzed once in a week. The maximum removal efficiency of 96% NH3-N was observed in 25% dilution of all the three wastewaters. Lemna minor achieved the maximum removal efficiency of NH3, NO2, NO3, PO4, BOD and COD in municipal wastewaters at the rate of 96%, 98%, 98%, 96%, 79% and 79% respectively. This result clearly explains that duckweed is an alternative cost effective natural biological tool in wastewater treatment. This treated wastewater can be used for agriculture and aquaculture activities.