phytoremediation capacity of egeria densa for heavy metal contaminated wastewater and its applicability for constructed wetland

Introduction: phytoremediation is a process for restoring the environment that utilizes plant physiology and metabolism. the study was performed on a laboratory scale to assess the heavy metal removal efficiency of egeria densa, its response to contaminated wastewater, and its potential for application in constructed wetlands.materials and methods: synthetic wastewater samples with low, moderate, and high concentrations of cr, cu, fe, and zn were prepared. e. densa was cultivated in these samples for 14 days under controlled conditions, and parameters such as heavy metal removal efficiency, growth rates, chlorophyll content, and water quality indices were analyzed.results: results showed that in low heavy metal-contaminated wastewater, the removal efficiency of the e. densa for cr, cu, fe, and zn was 93.7%, 91.20%, 87.2%, and 100%, respectively. in highly heavy metal-contaminated wastewater, the heavy metal removal efficiency of the e. densa for cr, cu, fe, and zn was 36%, 54%, 35.2%, and 75%, respectively.  therefore, the study revealed that elevated heavy metal concentrations adversely affected the plant growth rate. conclusion: e. densa is a viable option for the constructed wetland system in scenarios where wastewater ranges from low to moderately contaminated respecting heavy metals. these findings can serve as a reference for future studies and provide valuable insights for researchers looking to implement e. densa as constructed wetland vegetation.