important role in aquatic ferns for the tolerance of heavy metals (Farnese et al. 2014;
Andrade et al. 2016; da Silva et al. 2018).
Pavithra and Kousar (2016) studied the potentiality of S. molesta in the treatment
of wastewater released from textiles and proved that S. molesta has the capability of
reducing the harmful heavy toxic metals. Ng and Chan (2017) have researched the
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) wastewater treatment using S. molesta plant. Their
observation suggested that the water quality of POME has increased after treatment
with S. molesta. Similarly (Ng et al. 2017) have cultured the S. molesta in raceway
pond for about 16 days. The wastewater samples were collected after cultivation and
quality analysis was done for phosphate, nitrate, ammonia, nitrogen, and chemical
oxygen demand. The observation has shown that S.molesta has accounted for 95%
phosphate removal lowering its value to 0.17 mg/l, nitrate lowered to 0.50 mgL
À1 ,
and ammonia to 2.62 mgL
À1 . The efficiency of COD removal was found to be 39%.
This study agrees with the report achieved by Xie and Yu (2003) who have defined
that the plant in the aquatic system can absorb and accumulate phosphorus and they
can utilize it for their growth.
Abeywardhana et al. (2017) has demonstrated the removal of heavy metal from
the water discharged from industries using S. molesta. In accordance with their
experiment the nitrogen removal efficiency was found to be 73.34%, chromium
81.66%, Copper 69.81%, iron 65.2%, nickel 66.39%, lead 74.85% and phosphate
was found to be 72.63%. From this result, it is evident that S.molesta can be used in
an efficient phytoremediation process.
George and Gabriel (2017) has inferred the proficiency of S.molesta in the
reduction of heavy metal level in the wastewater of municipality from industrial
sites around India. A further study by Tangahu and Putri (2017) has inspected the
efficiency of S. molesta in reducing COD and BOD. This study BOD reducing the
efficiency of 21% and COD reducing efficiency to 42%. Besides, Hanafiah et al.
(2018) have suggested the ability of S. molesta in the removal of ammonical nitrogen
and solid effluents through phytoremediation. Moreover, da Silva et al. (2018)
experimented on the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in S. molesta tolerance to Arsenite and
performance of this plant in the remediation of contaminated water. The results of
the research show that S. molesta has a greater tendency to reduce arsenite toxicity
from wastewater.
Sreekumar and John (2018) validated the effectiveness of S. molesta plants in the
reduction of heavy metals (Zn and Cd) from wastewater. Research by Ugya et al.
(2019) demonstrated the efficacy of macrophytes in phytoremediation of wastewater
produced from the dye industry. They authenticated that S. molesta has the highest
reduction efficacy for phenol and ammoniacal nitrogen compared to other macrophytes. This outlines the roles of S. molesta in the degradation of organic, inorganic,
metals, and heavy metals contaminants in the phytoremediation of wastewater
regardless of its source.
16 Bioremediation of Heavy Metals Using Salvina Molesta – A Freshwater. . .
349
Andrade et al. 2016; da Silva et al. 2018).
Pavithra and Kousar (2016) studied the potentiality of S. molesta in the treatment
of wastewater released from textiles and proved that S. molesta has the capability of
reducing the harmful heavy toxic metals. Ng and Chan (2017) have researched the
Palm oil mill effluent (POME) wastewater treatment using S. molesta plant. Their
observation suggested that the water quality of POME has increased after treatment
with S. molesta. Similarly (Ng et al. 2017) have cultured the S. molesta in raceway
pond for about 16 days. The wastewater samples were collected after cultivation and
quality analysis was done for phosphate, nitrate, ammonia, nitrogen, and chemical
oxygen demand. The observation has shown that S.molesta has accounted for 95%
phosphate removal lowering its value to 0.17 mg/l, nitrate lowered to 0.50 mgL
À1 ,
and ammonia to 2.62 mgL
À1 . The efficiency of COD removal was found to be 39%.
This study agrees with the report achieved by Xie and Yu (2003) who have defined
that the plant in the aquatic system can absorb and accumulate phosphorus and they
can utilize it for their growth.
Abeywardhana et al. (2017) has demonstrated the removal of heavy metal from
the water discharged from industries using S. molesta. In accordance with their
experiment the nitrogen removal efficiency was found to be 73.34%, chromium
81.66%, Copper 69.81%, iron 65.2%, nickel 66.39%, lead 74.85% and phosphate
was found to be 72.63%. From this result, it is evident that S.molesta can be used in
an efficient phytoremediation process.
George and Gabriel (2017) has inferred the proficiency of S.molesta in the
reduction of heavy metal level in the wastewater of municipality from industrial
sites around India. A further study by Tangahu and Putri (2017) has inspected the
efficiency of S. molesta in reducing COD and BOD. This study BOD reducing the
efficiency of 21% and COD reducing efficiency to 42%. Besides, Hanafiah et al.
(2018) have suggested the ability of S. molesta in the removal of ammonical nitrogen
and solid effluents through phytoremediation. Moreover, da Silva et al. (2018)
experimented on the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in S. molesta tolerance to Arsenite and
performance of this plant in the remediation of contaminated water. The results of
the research show that S. molesta has a greater tendency to reduce arsenite toxicity
from wastewater.
Sreekumar and John (2018) validated the effectiveness of S. molesta plants in the
reduction of heavy metals (Zn and Cd) from wastewater. Research by Ugya et al.
(2019) demonstrated the efficacy of macrophytes in phytoremediation of wastewater
produced from the dye industry. They authenticated that S. molesta has the highest
reduction efficacy for phenol and ammoniacal nitrogen compared to other macrophytes. This outlines the roles of S. molesta in the degradation of organic, inorganic,
metals, and heavy metals contaminants in the phytoremediation of wastewater
regardless of its source.
16 Bioremediation of Heavy Metals Using Salvina Molesta – A Freshwater. . .
349