Improvement of Saline Effluent Quality Using Phytoremediation

Phytoremediation is one of the innovative, economical as well as eco-friendly desalination methods. The current study was aimed at investigating the amount of uptake and removal of some contaminants and nutrients from saline waters by vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty). This research was performed as multi-factorial in a completely randomized design including three different levels of saline effluent (1, 10 and 14 dS/m) and two planting densities (10 and 20 vetiver plants) with three replications.  The vetiver grass was cultivated in 220-liter tanks with a cross-section of 0.23 square meters located in the educational farm at Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), Isfahan, Iran. Moreover, parameters changes including electrical conductivity (EC), cations (Ca, Mg and Na) as well as nutrients (N, P, and K) were measured with a residence time of 3, 7, and 14 days. The obtained results indicate that the vetiver grass can reduce EC (14-15.88%), cations (Ca (32.94-41.67%), Mg (29.51-57.14%), and Na (5.59-14.36%) as well as nutrients N (31-44.03%), P (44.15-51.54%), and K (24.37-56.32%)) from different salinity levels during 14 days. Furthermore, there is no significant difference between 10 and 20 vetiver plants in terms of uptake of contaminants due to high plant growth.