Phytoremediation of Wastewater Containing Lead and Manganese Ions Using Algae

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The article provides important information about water treatment using algae. Waters are becoming increasingly polluted, and different methods are being studied that offer many advantages to treat them. In this context, the aim of this research is to share the results of experimental research carried out applying this phytoremediation process. The removal efficiencies of manganese and lead ions from wastewater are found to be 95.73% and 99.46% using Sargassum fusiforme, respectively, and 98.17% and 100.00% using Enteromorpha prolifera, respectively. Some advantages of applying this phytoremediation process for wastewater treatment are low cost, efficiency and plant sustainability. Thus, phytoremediation can be a very good approach for economical and sustainable remediation of waters containing organic or inorganic pollutants. ABSTRACT: Heavy metal pollution of water from industrial discharge is a major problem worldwide. Thus, the quality of the environment and human health are severely affected. Various conventional technologies have been applied for water treatment, but these can be expensive, especially for industrial water treatment, and may have limited treatment efficiencies. Phytoremediation is a method that is successfully applied to remove metal ions from wastewater. In addition to the high efficiency of the depollution treatment, this method has the advantages of a low cost of the operation and the existence of many plants that can be used. This article presents the results of using algae (Sargassum fusiforme and Enteromorpha prolifera) to treat water containing manganese and lead ions. It was observed that maximum efficiencies for wastewater treatment were obtained when was used the algae Enteromorpha prolifera for a 600 min contact time period. The highest wastewater treatment efficiency obtained using Sargassum fusiforme was 99.46%.