Page 72 - AJWEP-22-4

Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution. Vol. 22, No. 4 (2025), pp. 64-74.
doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025150105

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

Submerged hydrophytes as a tool for the removal of
heavy metals

Wesal Suliman Tanko , Fauzeya Mateq Albalwe , Asmaa A. Bakr ,
1
3
2
Ali M. Ali 4,5 , Rashid Ismael Hag Ibrahim , Ahmad. M. Abdel-Mageed ,
6
4
Ismail M. A. M. Shahhat , Salma Yousif Sidahmed Elsheikh ,
6
6
Hebat-Allah Ali Hussein , EL-Sayed M. Qaoud , Safia M. Ezzat ,
8
1
7
Maha M. Elshamy , Mohamed A. Abdein * , and Elsayed M. Nafea 11
9
10
1 Department of Science and Technology, University College at Nairiyah, University of Hafr Al Batin, Nairiyah,
Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
3 Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
4 Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
5 Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
6 Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia
7 Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
8 Department of Statistics, Faculty of Commerce, Al-Azhar University, Girls’ Branch, Cairo, Egypt
9 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
10 Department of Seeds Development, El-Nada Misr Scientific Research and Development Projects, Turrell, Mansoura, Egypt
11 Department of Aquatic Environment, Fish Resources Faculty, Suez University, Suez, Egypt
*Corresponding author: Mohamed A. Abdein (abdeingene@yahoo.com)

Received: April 8, 2025; Revised: April 28, 2025; Accepted: May 7, 2025; Published online: July 8, 2025

Abstract: Aquatic macrophytes serve as a remarkable biological filter. By absorbing the dissolved metals and
pollutants through their tissues, they can efficiently detoxify water streams. The majority of human activities
result in the discharge of toxic substances, including heavy metals, as byproducts into water, sediments, and the
environment. This study assesses the efficacy of the usage of submerged aquatic macrophytes, such as Ceratophyllum
demerssum L. (Family: Ceratophyllaceae) and Potamogeton pectinatus L. (Family: Potamogetonaceae), gathered
from El-Burullus Lake, which is located northeast to deltaic vicinity of Egypt, to purify waste-polluted water from
heavy metals: cadmium, lead, zinc and manganese. Concentrations of these metals in the wastewater samples were
measured by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results showed that C. demerssum has an elimination
performance of 63% for heavy metals studied, which was lower than that of P. pectinatus measured at 75%.
Therefore, aquatic macrophytes studied are promising candidates for remediating wastewater, comparing extent of
eco-toxicity, and preventing pollution occurring in the aquatic environments.

Keywords: Wastewater treatment; Potamogeton pectinatus L.; Ceratophyllum demerssum L.; Bioremoval of
pollutants

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 64 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025150105