Phytoremediation of Aqueous Solutions Containing Basic Fuchsin and Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 Using Ceratophyllum...

The contamination of aquatic environments with synthetic dyes poses significant environmental hazards, necessitating the development of cost-effective and sustainable remediation strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of Ceratophyllum demersum, an aquatic hydrophyte, for the removal of basic fuchsin (B.F.) and Coomassie brilliant blue R-250 (C.B.) from aqueous solutions. Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of pH, initial dye concentration, plant biomass, and aeration duration on dye removal efficiency. The phytoremediation process was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Results showed that optimal removal efficiencies of 95% for both dyes were achieved after 2 weeks. For B.F., the best conditions were pH 9, 10-mg/L initial concentration, 20-g biomass, and 3-h daily aeration; for C.B., optimal conditions were pH 8, 30-mg/L initial concentration, 20-g biomass, and 3-h daily aeration. FESEM revealed surface morphological changes after dye exposure, while EDS confirmed the presence of dye-related elements on the plant surface. FTIR analysis indicated that proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids contributed to dye binding. Adsorption isotherm analysis showed that the Freundlich model best described the process (R² up to 0.959), indicating heterogeneous, multilayer adsorption. In conclusion, Ceratophyllum demersum demonstrated high efficiency and strong adsorption capacity for removing both dyes, confirming its potential as an eco-friendly and sustainable solution for dye-contaminated wastewater treatment.