The use of pistia stratiotes in domestic sewage water treatment from natural lakes and ponds at khanh an commune, An Phu district, AnGiang province

AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (4), 33 – 38

THE USE OF PISTIA STRATIOTES IN DOMESTIC SEWAGE WATER TREATMENT
FROM NATURAL LAKES AND PONDS AT KHANH AN COMMUNE,
AN PHU DISTRICT, AN GIANG PROVINCE
Nguyen Tran Thien Khanh1, Le Cong Quyen2, Nguyen Xuan Lan2
1

An Giang University, VNU – HCM

2

Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring and Technology, An Giang

Information:
Received: 25/04/2019
Accepted: 27/09/2019
Published: 11/2019
Keywords:
Pistia stratiotes, domestic
sewage, Khanh An lakes and
ponds

ABSTRACT
The paper indicates that Pistia stratiotes were used for wastewater treatment
about twenty days with 0 individual/tank, five individuals/tank, seven
individuals/tank, nine individuals/tank. Every experiment was conducted
three times in the same way with 140 L for each tank. The experimental
result shows that the amount of Pistia stratiotes increases and reach the
highest quality in Treatment 3 on the 15th day. The treatment performance
of BOD5, COD, TKN, and TP content of Treatment 3 using Pistia stratiotes

on the 20th day is high varying from 63.9 % to 96.4 %.

1. INTRODUCTION

protein, 0,3% fat, 2,6% carbohydrate, 0,9% raw
fiber and 1,9% mineral substances(mostly kali
and phosphorus), the leaf is rich in vitamins
A&C (Khare, C.P. 2005). Mohapatra S.B and
Patra A.K, (2014) concluded that P. stratiotes
Can be used as a main raw material in mixing
feed for carp.

Today, Khanh An commune, An Phu district,
An Giang province applies the method of
digging pond to treat domestic wastewater with
aquatic plants with an area of 600 m2. However,
up to now, the domestic waste water from the
pond after being discharged into the Hau River
still exceeds QCVN 14: 2008 many times.

In order to provide more solutions to improve
the water in Khanh An lake, it is necessary to
study the density of Pistia stratiotes.

Sinha, S et al (2006) stated that Pistia stratiotes
is a species capable of removing organic
compounds in wastewater. Nguyen Thanh Loc,
Vo Thi Cam Thu et al (2015) showed that
treatment performance of Pistia stratiotes for
water quality parameters such as: TKN, TP,

BOD5 and COD respectively at 65,5 % ,
95,81%, 67,20% and 74,73%.

2. RESEARCH METHOD
2.1 Seedling preparation
Pistia stratiotes collected from waterbody in
An Giang province. Pistia stratiotes seedling
after collect is washed thoroughly with clean
water. Then choosing the strong, healthy plants,
pest-free and relatively similar in height and
growth period. The roots will be cut, leaving

Pistia stratiotes contains different types of
alkaloids:
glycosides,
flavonoid
and
phytosterol. Leaf and stem contain 1,4%

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AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (4), 33 – 38

0.5 cm from the root and cut off the small
seedlings. The plants will be put into
rectangular plastic containers containing clean
water with a volume of 157.5 L (length 0.7 m x
width 0.5 m x height 0.45 m) in 2 days (Nguyen
Thanh Loc et al., 2015).

collected and analyzed according to standards
APPA, AWWA and WEF (2005). The duration
of collecting sampling period is 5 days per time
(the first time is from the beginning of
experiment arrangement). Water samples are
analyzed immediately after collection; In case
of unsuccessful analysis, the sample will be
stored in accordance to the standard of TCVN
6663-3 : 2008.

2.2 Waste water preparation
Wastewater is transported from Khanh An Lake
to the testing location and immediately put into
the testing units (transportation time is about 2
hours).

2.4.2 Collecting
and
stratiotes samples

analyzing

Pistia

Pistia stratiotes in all 3 treatments were
collected based on two indicators including
density and number of leaves per individual.
The sampling period of Pistia stratiotes is the
same as the water samples (Théophile Fonkou

et al. 2002).

2.3 Experimental arrangement
The experiment was arranged in a completely
randomized manner with 4 treatments with
different density of Pistia stratiotes densities: 0
individual / tank, 5 individuals / tank, 7
individuals / tank, 9 individuals / tank. Each
treatment was set up for 3 times with the
amount of waste water arranged in each tank of
140 L. The experimental arrangement was 20
days (Théophile Fonkou et al. 2002). No
additional waste water was added during the
experiment.

2.5

Data processing methods

The data was synthesized using MS Excel
software. First, the variance is analyzed then
tested via Duncan using SPSS 18.0 software to
evaluate the ability of water quality treatment
indicators and the quantity of Pistia stratiotes in
the experimental treatments.

2.4 Method of collecting and analyzing
indicators

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

2.4.1 Collecting and analyzing water samples

3.1 Characteristics of input waste water

Water sample analysis criteria includes
biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical
oxygen demand (COD), Total Kjeldahl
Nitrogen (TKN), Total phosphorus (TP) were

The analysis of the input wastewater shows that
the concentration of pollutants in the
wastewater is quite high as shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Characteristics of wastewater used in the experiment

Indicator

Unit

Value

QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT (Column A)

BOD5

mg/L

105.67 ± 2.52

30

COD

mg/L

206.33 ± 9.07

70*

TKN

mg/L

15.4 ± 0.3

35

TP

mg/L

3.63 ± 0.13

6

(*) TCVN 6980: 2001, Q > 200 m3/s, F1

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AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (4), 33 – 38

TKN and TP indicator respectively are 15.4 ±
0.3mg/L and 3.63 ± 0.13mg/L lower than
QCVN
14:2008/BTNMT
(Column
A).
However, BOD5, and COD indicators
respectively are 105.67 mg/L, 206.33 ±
9.07mg/L much higher than allowed by law.
Therefore, the wastewater does not meet the
standards and is required more treatment before
being discharged.

and Treatment 3 increases over time and
reaches the highest value on the 15th day. From
the 15th to the 20th day, the number of Pistia
stratiotes is decreasing. This is due to the fact
that the Pistia stratiotes starts to die at this
stage because the nutrient content in water is
very low while the quantity of Pistia stratiotes
is high.
The difference in the number of Pistia stratiotes
in the treatments is statistically significant at the
significance level ( = 0.05).

3.2 Quantity growth of Pistia stratiotes
The results in Figure 1 show that the number of

Pistia stratiotes in Treatment 1, Treatment 2

Figure 1. Growth in the quantity of Pistia stratiotes over time

3.3 Waste water treatment capacity of Pistia
stratiotes
3.3.1

Meanwhile, control treatment does not arrange
Pistia stratiotes, BOD5 content is at high level,
exceeding QCVN 14: 2008 / BTNMT. The
content of BOD5 in different treatments was
statistically significant ( = 0.05)

The treatment performance of BOD5
content using Pistia stratiotes over time

The results in Table 2 show that BOD5 content
decreases along with the experiment time. All 3
treatments using Pistia stratiotes to treat BOD5
content in water at day 20 was lower than
QCVN 14: 2008 / BTNMT (column A).

Treatment performance of BOD5 content in
water in 3 Treatment using Pistia stratiotes at
day 20 was quite high: Treatment 1: 80.1%,
Treatment 2: 84.2% and Treatment 3: 88%.

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AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (4), 33 – 38
Table 2. BOD5 content of treatments over time (mg/L)

Treatment
Control
Treatment1
Treatment2
Treatment3

Day 0

Day 5

Day 10

Day 15

Day 20

(*)

(**)

105.7 ± 2.5

93.3 ± 1.5

82.3 ± 3.2

75.3 ± 1.5

68.0 ± 2.0

35.6

a

a

a

a

a

105.7 ± 2.5

86.3 ± 3.5

57.7 ± 1.2

37.3 ± 4.7

21.0 ± 2.7

a

b

b

b

b

105.7 ± 2.5

84.7 ± 3.8

55.3 ± 2.5

35.3 ± 2.3

16.6 ± 1.5

a

b

b

b

c

105.7 ± 2.5

74.7 ± 4.2

45.7 ± 2.9

31.0 ± 1.0

12.7 ± 2.1

a

c

c

c

d

80.1
84.2

30

88.0

Note: On the same column, values with different characters mean that the difference is statistically significant ( =
0.05); Average value ± Std
(*): Treatment performance of day 20 (%)
(**): QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT (Column A)

3.3.2 The treatment performance of COD
content using Pistia stratiotes over time

decomposed into an easily absorbed ion form
for growth.

Table 3 shows the COD content at the 15th day
in Treatment 2, Treatment 3 and the 20th day in
3 treatments is lower than the permitted level of
TCVN 6980: 2001, Q> 200 m3 / s, F1 and the
wastewater is allowed to be discharged directly
to the receiving source. The results showed that
Pistia stratiotes used organic matter to be

The treatment performance of COD content in 3
treatments using Pistia stratiotes on day 20 was
quite high respectively Treatment1: 72%,
Treatment2: 78.7% and Treatment3: 84.3%.
This result is quite similar to the study of
Nguyen Thanh Loc et al. (2015) and Théophile
Fonkou et al. (2002).

Table 3. COD values of treatments over time (mg/L)

Treatment
Control
Treatment1
Treatment2
Treatment3

Day 0

Day 5

Day 10

Day 15

206.3 ± 9.1

190.3 ± 3.5

175.0 ± 4.6

159.0 ± 1.0

a

a

a

a

206.3 ± 9.1

149.0 ± 6.1

a

b

206.3 ± 9.1

140.7 ± 6.4

a

b

206.3 ± 9.1

116.3 ± 4.0

a

c

98.3 ± 5.7
b

Day 20

(**)

145.0 ± 4.6 a

29.7

86.7 ± 2.1

57.7 ± 4.9 b

72.0

68.0 ± 1.0

44.0 ± 3.0 c

78.7

45.3 ± 1.5

32.3 ± 2.5 d

84.3

(*)

b

82.3 ± 3.2
c

c

55.7 ±2.5 d

70

d

Note: On the same column, values with different characters mean that the difference is statistically significant ( =
0.05); Average value ± Std
(*):Treatment performance of day 20 (%)
(**): TCVN 6980: 2001, Q > 200 m3/s, F1

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AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (4), 33 – 38

3.3.3 The treatment performance of TKN
content using Pistia stratiotes over time

at 71.1%. On day 20, it is at 71.1%. In
Treatment 3, the number of Pistia stratiotes
increases a lot. TKN content treatment
efficiency reaches the highest in Treatment 3 at
83,6%. This result is higher than stated in the
study of Nguyen Thanh Loc et al., (2015). The
difference in the ability of TKN content
treatment of Pistia stratiotes in the treatments is
statistically significant ( = 0.05). The data are
shown in Table 4.

When comparing the results of the number of
Pistia stratiotes in the Treatments, it shows that
the amount of TKN content decreases, the
weight of the Pistia stratiotes individuals
increase along with the experiment time. In
particular, in Treatment 1, the number of Pistia

stratiotes is the lowest, the treatment
performance of TKN content of Treatment 1 is

Table 4. TKN values of the treatments over time (mg/L)

Treatment
Control

Day 0

Day 5

Day 10

Day 15

Day 20

(*)

15.4 ± 0.3 a

13.73 ± 0.2 a

12.47 ± 0.4 a

11.60 ± 0.2 a

10.57 ± 0.2 a

31.4

0.3 a

0.9 b

0.1 b

0.4 b

0.2 b

71.1

Treatment1

15.4 ±

10.66 ±

7.40 ±

5.70 ±

4.45 ±

Treatment2

15.4 ± 0.3 a

10.47 ± 0.1 b

7.10 ± 0.2 b

5.31 ± 0.3 b

4.12 ± 0.3 b

73.2

Treatment3

15.4 ± 0.3 a

9.76 ± 0.3 c

6.52 ± 0.1 c

3.99 ± 0.1 c

2.52 ± 0.3 c

83.6

(**)

35

Note: On the same column, values with different characters mean that the difference is statistically significant (  =
0.05); Average value ± Std

(*):Treatment performance of day (%)
(*): QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT (column A)

3.3.4 The treatment performance of TP content
using Pistia stratiotes over time

the control treatment not using Pistia stratiotes,
the treatment performance of TP content is only
at 33.3%. Thus, we conclude that aquatic plants
take nutrients in wastewater to serve their
growth and at the same time contributes to
pollutants removal in the water. The difference
in the treatment performance of TKN content of
Pistia stratiotes in the treatments is statistically
significant ( = 0.05).

Table 5 shows the change in TP content in
outlet wastewater compared to untreated input
wastewater. This proves that aquatic plants play
an important role in phosphorus removal. The
treatment performance of TP content of 3
Treatments with Pistia stratiotes at day 20 was
very high. Treatment 1: 63.9%, Treatment 2:
74.7% and Treatment 3: 96.4%. Meanwhile, in

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AGU International Journal of Sciences – 2019, Vol. 7 (4), 33 – 38
Table 5. TP values of treatments over time (mg/L)

Treatment

Day 0

Day 5

Day 10

Day 15

Day 20

(*)

Control

3.63 ± 0.13 a

3.24 ± 0.05a

2.86 ± 0.07a

2.56 ± 0.09a

2.42 ± 0.25a

33.3

Treatment1

3.63 ± 0.13 a

2.88 ± 0.12b

2.11 ± 0.08d

1.90 ± 0.15b

1.31 ± 0.18b

63.9

Treatment2

3.63 ± 0.13a

2.62 ± 0.13c

1.55 ± 0.17c

1.25 ± 0.03c

0.92 ± 0.12c

74.7

Treatment3

a

d

d

d

d

96.4

3.63 ± 0.13

2.16 ± 0.03

1.26 ± 0.09

0.80 ± 0.09

0.13 ± 0.04

(**)
6

Note: On the same column, values with different characters mean that the difference is statistically significant ( =
0.05); Average value ± Std
(*):Treatment performance of day 20 (%)
(*): QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT (column A)

4. CONCLUSION AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

Khare, C.P. 2005. Encyclopedia of Indian
medicinal plants. Berlin Heidelberg,
Germany: Springer-Verlag. p. 372.

4.1 Conclusion

Mohapatra S.B & Patra A.K. (2014).
Evaluation of nutritional value of water
lettuce (pistia stratiotes) meal as partial
substitution for fish meal on the growth
performance of cyprinus carpio fry.
International Journal of Agricultural Science
and Research (IJASR) ISSN(P): 2250-0057;
ISSN(E): 2321-0087 Vol. 4, Issue 3, Jun
2014, 147-154.

The number of Pistia stratiotes increases over
the experimental period and reached the highest
number in Treatment 3 on day 15.
During the test, environmental factors decreases
over time. The treatment efficiency of BOD5
content in water in 3 NT with Pistia stratiotes
arrangement at day 20 is quite high
respectively, Treatment 1: 80.1% to 88%. The
highest treatment performance of COD content
in Treatment 3: 84.3%. Treatment performance
of TKN content ranges from 71.1% to 83.6%.
Finally, treatment performance of TP content is

very high in Treatment 1: from 63.9% to
96.4%. Treatment 3 has the highest treatment
performance.

Nguyen Thanh Loc, Vo Thị Cam Thu, Nguyen
Truc Linh, Dang Cuong Thinh, Phung Thi
Hang and Nguyen Vo Chau Ngan. (2015).
Evaluate the effectiveness of domestic
wastewater treatment of some types of
aquatic plants. Can Tho University: Topic:
Environment and climate change (2015):
119-128.

4.2 Recommendations
It is very important to continue to research
domestic wastewater treatment in the lakes of
Khanh An commune, An Phu district, An Giang
province by Pistia stratiotes in continuous flow
system.

Sinha, S., A.K. Gupta, K. Bhatt, K. Pandey,
U.N. Rai and K.P.Singh. (2006). Environ.
Monitor. Assess., 80: 17-31.
Théophile Fonkou, Philip Agendia, Ives
Kengne, Amougou Akoa & Jean Nya,
(2002). Potentials of water lettuce (Pistia
stratiotes) in domestic sewage treatment
with macrophytic lagoon systems in
Cameroon. Proceedings of International
Symposium on Environmental Pollution

Control and Waste Management 7-10
January 2002, Tunis (EPCOWM’2002),
p.709-714.

REFERENCES
APHA, AWWA & WEF. (2005). Standard
Methods for the Examination of Water and
Wastewater (20th ed), American Public
Health Association, Washington, DC.

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