Articles

Evaluation of the efficiency of Dracaena sanderiana in removing nutrients from synthetic wastewater by phytoremediation technology

Saifaldin A. Moslih, Masood M. Hazzaa
Published2026-06-30
Pages22-34
SectionArticles
LanguageEnglish
Views16
Downloads4
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.65115/vnmjxn49
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Abstract

The removal of nutrients from industrial wastewater is needed in order to mitigate water pollution. Phytoremediation is economical and environmentally friendly but there is limited research on the efficiency of Dracaena sanderiana for removal of phosphate and nitrate. The efficiency of the ornamental plant Dracaena sanderiana in removing nutrients and organic matter from synthetic wastewater in a hydroponic treatment system was evaluated in this study. Experiments were conducted for five days under controlled laboratory conditions and three runs were performed with different initial concentrations of pollutants to assess the effect of pollutant loading on the removal of phosphate, nitrate and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The first experiment showed 71–76% removal of phosphate, 71–73% removal of nitrate and about 57% removal of COD. In the second experiment, removal was 52–59% for phosphate, 65–69% for nitrate, and approximately 51% for COD. In the third experiment, the efficiencies declined to approximately 40% for phosphate, 51% for nitrate, and 49% for COD. The relative removal efficiency decreased as the initial pollutant concentration increased, likely owing to higher pollutant loading and saturation of the plant's absorption capacity. These findings indicate that Dracaena sanderiana is a feasible, low-cost, and eco-friendly option for improving water quality within a relatively short treatment period.

Keywords phytoremediation Dracaena sanderiana phosphate removal nutrients removal water treatment

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Competing interests

Saifaldin A. Moslih

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Masood M. Hazzaa

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How to cite

Abd Moslih, S. & M. Hazzaa, M. (2026). Evaluation of the efficiency of Dracaena sanderiana in removing nutrients from synthetic wastewater by phytoremediation technology. Samarra Journal of Engineering Science and Research, 4(2), 22-34. https://doi.org/10.65115/vnmjxn49

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