The effect of Typha Latifolia L. on heavy metals phytoremediation at the urban and industrial wastewater entrance to the Meighan wetland, Iran

A mixture of urban and industrial wastewater is discharged into the Meighan wetland, Arak, Iran. The heavy metals containing wastewater leads to environmental hazards whereby phytoremediation can be used for removing pollutants from contaminated water. An essential native plant that is abundant in the Meighan wetland is Typha Latifolia L. The effect of T. Latifolia L. was investigated on the removal of heavy metals (aluminum, zinc, copper, and nickel) at the inlet of Arak wastewater treatment plant into Meighan wetland. The soil (0- 30 cm in depth) and plants (aerial and root biomass) were sampled in September 2019. In the laboratory, heavy metal accumulation in samples was measured via atomic absorption method. The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the concentrations of all four metals were significantly different across the soil, root, and aerial biomass. The results of mean comparison by Duncan's test indicated that the highest concentration of aluminum was in the soil, while the lowest in aerial parts. Copper was maximum in the root, and the minimum was found in the aerial parts. Also, the concentration of zinc was the highest in the root, and the lowest in the soil. And, nickel was maximum in the soil while being minimum in the root. Data showed that the concentrations of aluminum in the soil, root, and aerial biomass of T. Latifolia L. were multiple times higher than permissible limit. The concentration of nickel in the soil was slightly higher than the acceptable limit, but the concentrations of other heavy metals in the soil, in aerial biomass, and in the root of T. Latifolia L. were within the acceptable range. The results indicated T. Latifolia L. is a suitable plant for the phytoremediation and water treatment in the Meighan wetland.