This study presents a novel, integrated treatment approach for petrochemical wastewater laden with 2-chloro-4-nitroaniline (2-Cl-4-NA) and heavy metals using a baffled duckweed reactor (BDR). Unlike traditional systems, this BDR leverages a unique tripartite synergy between Lemna gibba, a specialized symbiotic bacterial community, and in-situ photocatalytic oxidation. At an optimized hydraulic...
Seafood processing industries generate significant volumes of highly polluted wastewater that poses serious environmental challenges. The characteristics of seafood processing wastewaters were identified, focussing on the different processing stages. Fish filleting wastewater, generated from food-grade raw materials, contains plant nutrients, oils, proteins, and other organic compounds that...
Small, fast-accumulating, floating, aquatic macrophytes such as Lemnaceae (duckweeds) and Azolla have gained attention as an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution to be used for wastewater remediation due to their ability to remove nutrients and their potential for valorisation. Polycultures in agricultural systems have the potential to outperform monocultures through complementary resource...
Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly used in modern technologies, raising concerns about their release into aquatic environments and subsequent transfer through food webs. This study investigated the response of the floating macrophyte Lemna gibba to three ionic REEs (Ce, Nd, and Sm), focusing on phytotoxicity, uptake, and bioaccumulation. Plants were exposed to contaminated water for...
Agricultural drainage waters contain recoverable plant nutrients but may contribute to eutrophication when discharged untreated. This study evaluated Lemna minor for nutrient recovery from agricultural drainage water and, more importantly, investigated the unexplored potential of its dried biomass to bind boron (B) in soil and mitigate B toxicity in a crop plant. Duckweed was cultivated in...
Desalination brine, typically considered a disposal challenge, is evaluated through a resource recovery model that converts the concentrate into a valuable input for food production. A sequential system consisting of duckweed cultivation, fish production, and final irrigation of salt-tolerant halophytes is developed. Duckweed (Lemna gibba) serves as a key component by assimilating nutrients...
