Encyclopedia
Z. aethiopica and I. sibirica are two flowering species that have been used as emergent vegetation for the treatment of domestic wastewater. Z. aethiopica is in high demand in the national market in Mexico. The two species have a proven specific capacity to tolerate and take up pharmaceuticals and heavy metals.
- phytoremediation, carbamezepine
Phytoremediation is a technology that takes advantage of the biochemical processes of plants by which they decompose, stabilize, fix or metabolize organic and inorganic contaminants present in soils, sediments and water, thus reducing its concentration and danger ([1]Pilon-Smits and Freeman, 2006). The ability of plants to cope with emerging pollutants and heavy metal vary amongst the different species. Z. aethiopica and I. sibirica are two flowering species that have been used as emergent vegetation for the treatment of domestic wastewater (Fig. 1.) (Zurita et al., 2009; Zurita and White, 2014). Additionally, these two species have a proven specific capacity to tolerate and take up pharmaceuticals such as carbamazepine (Tejeda et al, 2017; Tejeda and Zurita, 2020) and heavy metals (Gao et al., 2015).
Z. aethiopica is a perennial plant native to temperate and cold areas of Southeast Africa; with an attractive and solitary spathe. The spathe is white and fragrant from 15 to 22 centimeters long and ends in a point (Zurita and Tejeda, 2018). This species is in high demand in the national market in Mexico, as well as in international markets as a potted plant, in gardens or as inflorescence for cutting (Zurita and Tejeda, 2018[2]). I. sibirica is native to Northeast Turkey, Russia and Eastern and Central Europe and it is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial that can grow from 50 to 120 cm tall.
Figure 1. Zantedeschia aethiopica (left) and Iris sibirica (right)planted in a treatment wetland for domestic wastewater treatment.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/w12051272
References
- Elizabeth A.H. Pilon-Smits; John Freeman; Environmental cleanup using plants: biotechnological advances and ecological considerations. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 2006, 4, 203-210, 10.1890/1540-9295(2006)004[0203:ecupba]2.0.co;2.
- Zurita Florentina, Tejeda Allan. Plantas Ornamentales en: (Humedales de Tratamiento: alternativa de saneamiento de aguas residuales aplicable en América Latina); Alarcón-Herrera, María Teresa; Zurita Martinez, Florentina; Lara Borrero, Jaime; Vidal, Gladys., Eds.; Pontificia Universidad Javeriana: Bogotá, Colombia, 2018; pp. 67.
- Florentina Zurita; J. De Anda; M.A. Belmont; Treatment of domestic wastewater and production of commercial flowers in vertical and horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetlands. Ecological Engineering 2009, 35, 861-869, 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2008.12.026.
- Florentina Zurita; John R. White; Comparative Study of Three Two-Stage Hybrid Ecological Wastewater Treatment Systems for Producing High Nutrient, Reclaimed Water for Irrigation Reuse in Developing Countries. Water 2014, 6, 213-228, 10.3390/w6020213.
- Allan Tejeda; Ángeles X. Torres-Bojorges; Florentina Zurita; Carbamazepine removal in three pilot-scale hybrid wetlands planted with ornamental species. Ecological Engineering 2016, 98, 410-417, 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.04.012.
- Jingqing Gao; Jingshen Zhang; Na Ma; Wenlong Wang; Changde Ma; Ruiqin Zhang; Cadmium removal capability and growth characteristics of Iris sibirica in subsurface vertical flow constructed wetlands. Ecological Engineering 2015, 84, 443-450, 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.07.024.
