Consortium of Marsilea crenata and Ludwigia adscendens for Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate Detergent Phytoremediator

Water clover (Marsilea crenata Presl.) and water primrose (Ludwigia adscendens L.) are plants grow in wetlands, polluted by inorganic or organic materials, including detergent. This study aims to evaluate the capability of M. crenata and L. adscendens individually or as a consortium to remediate linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) detergent-polluted water, and to measure the growth and chlorophyll content of these plants. M. crenata and L. adscendens were grown in a hydroponic system exposed to LAS at 0, 10, 20, and 30 ppm for 10 days. Concentration of LAS (as anionic detergent) in treated media was analysed by UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 652 nm, wet biomass was measured using analytical balance, and chlorophyll content was analysed using spectrophotometer at 649 and 655 nm. Data were analysed statistically using analysis of variance followed by the Duncan test. The results shows that (1) at the end of experiment the concentration of residual detergent increased with increasing LAS in the media and (2) the plants biomass and the chlorophyll concentration decreased with increasing the LAS concentration in media. However, since both M. crenata and L. ascendens can significantly reduce LAS detergent concentration and can survive in 30 ppm concentration of LAS detergent, both species can be applied as phytoremediator agents.