Cabadbaran City National High School

T. Curato St., Brgy. 12, Cabadbaran City

Nymphaea lotus (Water Lilies) as

Potential Biosorbent in Phytoremediation

Activity

Mark Ivan P. Mansalay

Student Researcher

Theody P. Dagohoy
Research Adviser
 Chapter I

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Cabadbaran City is now growing and rapidly becoming an urban place with many industrial

activities for its economic purposes. The fact that these industrial activities’ wastes go directly to

the city’s river cannot be denied and thus requires an immediate solution.

Phytoremediation using green water plants have potential benefits in restoring equilibrium in

polluted environments. It is a low-cost filtering mechanism using the ability of water plants that

are considered weeds. Water lilies (Nymphaea lotus); a water plant, has been receiving much

attention from the ecological and environmental points of view, in particular, due to its ability to

absorb and accumulate heavy metals from polluted waters.

Due to this, the researcher has come up with an idea that water lilies can be a potential biosorbent

in phytoremediation activity of chemical wastes in Cabadbaran City.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

This study was to find out if Nymphaea lotus or water lily is a potential biosorbent in

phytoremediation activity. Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:

1. Are there bioactive components present in N. lotus that allows it to accumulate heavy metals

from polluted waters?

2. How does N. lotus compare to the other green water plants in phytoremediation activity?
3. What is the percentage of the absorption rate by the chemical wastes that the water lilies can

accumulate?

1.3 Hypothesis of the Study

Ho1. There are no bioactive components present in N. lotus that can allow it to

absorb heavy metals.

Ho2. N. lotus cannot compare with the other green water plants in phytoremediation.

Ho3. The percentage of the absorption rate by the chemical wastes that the water lilies can

accumulate is negative and doesn’t accumulate or absorb chemical wastes at all.

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The focus of this study is to identify if Nymphaea lotus as a potential biosorbent in

phytoremediation activity and the researcher also aims:

1. to find out if there are any bioactive components present in N. lotus that allow it to absorb

heavy metals.

2. to find out if N. lotus can compare to the other green water plants in phytoremediation activity.

3. to find out what the percentage of the absorption rate by the chemical wastes that the water

lilies can accumulate.

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is very significant, especially to the following:

people living in Cabadbaran City

aquatic organisms living in the city’s river

 environment

1.6 Scope and Limitations

This study focuses only on the possibility of Nymphaea lotus or water lily as a biosorbent

in phytoremediation activity of chemical wastes in Cabadbaran City. The locale where the

sampling for this study will be on the Cabadbaran City river and the testing will take place at

Butuan City DENR-EMB. This study will be conducted within 6 months.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Phytoremediation: This is a low cost, solar energy driven cleanup technique.

In this study, this term is used as a low-cost filtering or cleanup technique.

DENR: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is the executive department of

the Philippine government responsible for governing and supervising the exploration,

development, utilization, and conservation of the country's natural resources.