Journal of Environmental Biology

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

 

Nihan Ozengin and Ayse Elmaci

Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Uludag University, Bursa-16059, Turkey

(Received: July 07, 2005 ; Revised received:April 06, 2006 ; Accepted: July 10, 2006)

Abstract: Duckweed (Lemna minor L.) has a wide application in Turkey having suitable climatic conditions. In this study, the growth of duckweed was assessed in laboratory scale experiments. They were fed with  municipal and industrial wastewater at constant temprature. COD, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and ortho-phosphate (OP) removal efficiencies of the reactors were monitored by sampling influent and effluent of the system. Removal efficiency in this study reflects  optimal results: 73-84% COD removal, 83-87% TN removal, 70-85% TP removal and 83-95% OP removal.  The results show that the duckweed-based wastewater treatment is capable of treating the laboratory wastewater.

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