Aini Sulastri, Ulli Kadaria, Jumiati Jumiati, Putranty Widha Nugraheni

Apu Wood (Pistia stratiotes) as Phytoremediation Agent of Screen-printing Wastewater

Introduction

apu wood (pistia stratiotes) as phytoremediation agent of screen-printing wastewater. Apu Wood (Pistia stratiotes) phytoremediates screen-printing wastewater. Discover its tolerance & effectiveness in reducing heavy metals like Pb & accumulating Cr6+ for environmental cleanup.

Abstract

Abstract. The screen-printing process produces wastewater like organic compounds that are difficult to degrade and heavy metals such as chromium, copper, manganese, and lead, which are toxic and can accumulate in the human body through the food chain. Phytoremediation is one method that utilizes plants' ability to reduce organic and inorganic pollutants, including heavy metals. Objective: This study aimed to describe the concentration of screen-printing waste that can be tolerated by apu wood plants and analyze the effectiveness of apu wood as a heavy metal remediator. Technology or Method: The method used in this research is a combination of filtration and phytoremediation using apu wood to reduce heavy metals such as Pb and Cr,6+ and a preliminary test of Pb and Cr6+ contained in the screen-printing wastewater was carried out. Results: Apu wood lives and thrives on screen-printing wastewater, with an average of 34 new individuals' tillers growth within 15 days. The propagation of apu wood in screen-printing wastewater produced total biomass with an average of 145 grams per reactor. The effectiveness of apu wood as a remediator of Pb was 13.65%, and accumulated in the leaves was 0.0911 mg/L. The accumulation of Cr6+ in the leaves was 0.6635 mg/L. The Cr6+ component in the waste during 15 days of treatment did not show a positive effect on metal removal because the higher chromium element oxidation reaction occurred in the wastewater during the research process. Keywords Apu wood; chromium (VI); filtration; phytoremediation.

Review

This study investigates the potential of *Pistia stratiotes* (apu wood) as a phytoremediation agent for screen-printing wastewater, a significant source of both organic compounds and heavy metals like chromium and lead. The research appropriately targets a critical environmental issue, given the toxicity and bioaccumulation potential of these pollutants. A notable strength lies in demonstrating that apu wood can not only tolerate but also thrive and propagate in raw screen-printing wastewater, exhibiting an average of 34 new individuals' tillers growth and substantial biomass production (145 grams per reactor) within 15 days. This high tolerance and rapid growth are promising indicators for the plant's applicability in challenging industrial effluent treatment scenarios. However, the reported remediation effectiveness presents significant concerns. While apu wood accumulated Pb in its leaves, the overall removal efficiency for lead (Pb) from the wastewater was a modest 13.65%. More critically, the study reports that Cr6+ removal "did not show a positive effect," with an explanation attributing this to higher chromium element oxidation reactions occurring in the wastewater during the research process. This suggests a potential increase in Cr6+ concentration or the conversion of less toxic forms to Cr6+, which is a major drawback for remediation. Furthermore, the reporting of accumulated metals in leaves in mg/L rather than standard mg/kg dry weight for plant tissue is unconventional and makes direct comparison with other phytoremediation studies difficult. The abstract also lacks crucial details regarding the initial and final concentrations of heavy metals in the wastewater, which are essential for a robust evaluation of remediation efficiency. In conclusion, while the study successfully demonstrates *Pistia stratiotes*' resilience and vigorous growth in screen-printing wastewater, its effectiveness as a heavy metal remediator, particularly for chromium, appears limited or even counterproductive based on these preliminary findings. The low lead removal efficiency and the issue with chromium oxidation highlight the need for significant methodological refinement and optimization. Future research should focus on elucidating and mitigating the chromium oxidation process, improving heavy metal uptake and translocation, and providing a more detailed mass balance for pollutants. Establishing clear initial and final concentrations and presenting accumulation data in standard units are paramount to rigorously assess the true phytoremediation potential of apu wood for this type of industrial effluent.

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