The use of duckweed (Lemna sp.) for tertiary treatment of heavy metal containing waste water

The aim of this study is to investigate heavy metal removal capacity of Lemna minor. For this purpose Lemna minor plant, provided from commercial market, growth by domestic waste water from sewer of campus of Gebze Institute of Technology in the natural land conditions then the plants are taken to the laboratory for inside conditions. Heavy metal removal efficiency of Lemna minor plant is investigated in the laboratory conditions. This study is performed in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory of Gebze Institute of Technology. Experimental works are carried out on systems as two different reactors. Semi-batch processes are performed in two systems have volume of 100 mL and 500 mL.Experimental results are as follows for three different heavy metal types: In the cadmium concentration of 5.0 mg/L and 10 mg/L: approximately %96 of removal efficiency in semi-batch reactors as 100mL and approximately %90 of removal efficiency in semi-batch reactors as 500mL. In the cooper concentration of 10,0 and 20 mg/L: approximately %89 of removal efficiency in semi-batch reactors as 100mL and approximately %89 of removal efficiency in semi-batch reactors as 500mL. In the lead concentration of 10,0 and 20 mg/L: approximately %98-100 of removal efficiency in semi-batch reactors as 100m and approximately %98-100 of removal efficiency in semi-batch reactors as 500mL. Keywords: Removal of Heavy Metal, Natural Wetland, Lemna minor, Aquatic Plants