Reducing ammoniacal nitrogen through aquatic plant absorption (water hyacinth) at Skudai River

摘要

Concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen at Sg. Skudai had increased due to increasing number of population and amount of chemical usage by industry in the catchment. The purpose of this study is to monitor the reduction amount of ammoniacal nitrogen by using aquatic plant (water hyacinth) and the effectiveness in reducing the ammoniacal nitrogen under climate of Malaysia at certain parameter. Parameter involve in the study are ammoniacal nitrogen, dissolve oxygen, pH, number of hyacinth plants, volume of water and depth of water. These parameters were monitored and measure once per a day for 9 days with continuous observation till 7 weeks. Sample of water and hyacinth plants water were collected at Sg. Skudai. Each of water were divided into three containers as Container A for 6 plants, Container B for 8 plants and Container C for 10 plants. Based from data collected indicate that Container C had reduce most ammoniacal nitrogen as the reduction of ammoniacal nitrogen decrease rapidly due to large amount of plant from 12.09 mg/l to 3.83 mg/l follow by Container B 12.41 mg/l to 3.54 mg/l and lastly Container A from 12.17 mg/l to 3.27 mg/l. The result obtains from day 1 until 7 weeks indicate that the retention time for each Container just in within range of day 1 until 9 as the result rapidly increase after 9 days due to nitrification process.