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Can we use Cd-contaminated macrophytes for biogas production?

  • Global toxicity assessment: chemicals, environmental samples, and analytical methods
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Abstract

Aside from the ability of plants to remove domestic-industrial wastewater contaminants from various types of water, macrophytes can also serve as an alternative source of energy. The goal of the present study was to test the viability of biogas production using aquatic macrophyte species—Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes—contaminated with cadmium (Cd) after the phytoremediation process. The plants were transferred to a nutrient solution contaminated with 0.8 mg L−1of Cd. The experiment was set up in a 2 × 3 factorial scheme with the presence or absence of Cd and three phytoremediation times (20, 40, or 60 days) using P. stratiotes followed by an additional treatment consisting of P. stratiotes + E. crassipes for 20 days. The acute and chronic effects of bioassays with the microcrustacean Daphnia similis were used to evaluate the ability of the macrophytes to remove toxicity by phytoremediation. The viability test of biogas production after phytoremediation was evaluated using micro-biodigesters. According to the results, at least 60 days of phytoremediation are necessary to remove/remediate the Cd present in the contaminated solution. The metal did not influence the macrophytes’ methanogenic activity, showing that these macrophytes can be used for biogas/methane production. The combination of Pistia stratiotes with Eichhornia crassipes is a good alternative to reduce phytoremediation time, but for 20 days of testing, the presence of Eichhornia crassipes reduces the biogas production/CH4. However, it is believed that if the digestion time is extended, this effect can be minimized. The phytoremediation time indicated that Pistia stratiotes must remain at least 60 days to remove/remediate the Cd present in the contaminated solution.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following people:

• IX Engenharia Santos for providing the GEM5000® apparatus.

• Frigorífico Frivasa for supplying the inoculums.

• CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) for providing the following scholarship: PNPD post-doctoral program in environment and water resources (MEMARH).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resources Institute (IRN), Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá, MG, 37500-903, Brazil

    Katiúcia Dias Fernandes, Geraldo Lúcio Thiago Filho & Ana Lúcia Fonseca

  2. Natural Resources Institute (IRN) and Electrical Systems and Energy (ISEE), Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá, MG, Brazil

    Susan Johana Benites Cañote

  3. Natural Resources Institute (IRN) and Energy Engineering (GEE), Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá, MG, Brazil

    Eruin Martusceli Ribeiro

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  1. Katiúcia Dias Fernandes
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  2. Susan Johana Benites Cañote
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  3. Eruin Martusceli Ribeiro
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  4. Geraldo Lúcio Thiago Filho
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Correspondence to Katiúcia Dias Fernandes.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Fernandes, K.D., Cañote, S.J.B., Ribeiro, E.M. et al. Can we use Cd-contaminated macrophytes for biogas production?. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 27620–27630 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2318-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2318-2

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