Role of Lemna minor L. In Phytoremediation and Reduction of Pollutants of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents: Research Article

Rahul Verma; Savita Verma; Priya Kushwaha; Amit Kumar Singh

doi:10.21276/pt.2025.v2.i4.10

Authors

Rahul Verma Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India Author https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3001-9473
Savita Verma Department of Environmental Sciences, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya, India Author https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4624-0490
Priya Kushwaha Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3945-554X
Amit Kumar Singh Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow Author https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7035-5607

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21276/pt.2025.v2.i4.10

Keywords:

Pulp and paper mills effluent, aquatic macrophytes, phytoremediation, BOD, COD, Lemna minor L

Abstract

Pulp and paper mill industrial effluents have pollution load in relation to their physicochemical characteristics, exceeding the standard recommended permissible limits set by various agencies. The aquatic macrophytes were found to alter the pH from alkaline to neutral pH in almost every industrial effluent. Changes in pH were dependent mainly upon the duration of the treatment methods adopted. The changes in physicochemical characteristics of paper mill effluent because of phytoremediation by Lemna minor L. were elaborated in this experiment. In this study, the TDS, DO, BOD, and COD values of pulp and paper mill effluent were significantly reduced by the application of Lemna minor L. The data demonstrated a reduction of TDS, BOD, and COD parameters dependent on concentration and duration. The results of the phytoremediation experiment are very effective for the reduction of pollutants in paper mill effluent. Data indicates that Lemna minor L. plants were significant in maintaining the physico-chemical characteristics of the effluent concentration at various exposure durations.

Author Biographies

Rahul Verma, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India

Research Associate, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow
Savita Verma, Department of Environmental Sciences, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University, Ayodhya, India

PG Student, Department of Environmental Sciences
Priya Kushwaha, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India

Research Scholar, Department of Botany
Amit Kumar Singh, Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow

Senior Assistant Professor, Plant Nutrition and Stress Physiology Laboratory

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