Investigations on the Money Plant's Nutrient Removal Efficiency in Nutrient Film Technique Hydroponic System Employing Synthetic Wastewater

Abstract

This study examines money plant (Epipremnum aureum) nitrate nitrogen removal efficiency in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system using synthetic wastewater. The aim of the research is to evaluate the plant's capacity for phytoremediation in highly controlled hydroponic environments. The NFT system was maintained at its ideal flow rate of 2 L/h and a hydraulic loading rate of 0.12 m³/d. The parameters of the wastewater were TDS 950–1750 ppm, EC 1–1.6 mS/cm, pH 4.9–5.9, and temperature 25°C–26°C. At the end of 90 days of growth, the plant had an average root length of 19 cm, a shoot height of 129 cm, 97 roots, and 90 leaves. The plants showed varied removal efficacy of BOD₅, ranging from 62.8% to 90.1%, and removal efficiency of nitrate nitrogen, ranging from 13% to 83%. These findings suggest that Epipremnum aureum can effectively grow in NFT systems and have potential for use in phytoremediation processes, especially when it comes to eliminating nitrate nitrogen and lowering BOD₅ in wastewater.