Efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms for phytoremediation of oil hydrocarbons in constructed Wetlands systems
Xenobiotic residues; flooded systems; environmental biotechnology
In 2019, Brazil witnessed one of the greatest environmental tragedies as a result of oil spillage on its littoral which triggered considerable impacts for the environment and socioeconomic sectors. As a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules and, in smaller concentration, non-hydrocarbon compounds, the crude oil can impact the environment in different magnitudes since the residues are retained in the soil/sediments, dispersed in water or bioaccumulated in the different organisms in contact with it. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes for the phytoremediation of residual hydrocarbons from the crude oil in mesocosms of contructed wetland systems, using analytical techniques for monitoring the residual water after treatment, and to verify the applicability of Trichoderma spp. as an elicitor for root development of E. crassipes in aquatic environment. The experimental data of the proposed phytoremediation system and the efficient concentration of microspores solution for aquatic environment are under evaluation for patent filing and need to be protected in confidential terms.