title: Hydroponics reducing effluent's heavy metals discharge.
abstract: This paper investigates the capacity of Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) to control effluent's heavy metals discharge. A commercial hydroponic system was adapted to irrigate lettuces with primary treated wastewater for studying the potential heavy metals removal. A second commercial hydroponic system was used to irrigate the same type of lettuces with nutrient solution and this system was used as a control. Results showed that lettuces grew well when irrigated with primary treated effluent in the commercial hydroponic system. The NFT-plant system heavy metals removal efficiency varied amongst the different elements, The system's removal efficiency for Cr was more than 92%, Ni more than 85%, in addition to more than 60% reduction of B, Pb, and Zn. Nonetheless, the NFT-plants system removal efficiencies for As, Cd and Cu were lower than 30%. Results show that lettuces accumulated heavy metals in leaves at concentrations higher than the maximum acceptable European and Australian levels. Therefore, non-edible plants such as flowers or pyrethrum are recommended as value added crops for the proposed NFT.
authors.affiliation: German Jordanian University, Water Engineering & Management, P.O.Box 35247, Amman, 11180, Jordan. abdellah.rababah@gju.edu.jo
authors.forename: Abdellah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rababah
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Shuha
mesh_terms: D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018527:Hydroponics / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical