Hydroponics and Environmental Bioremediation

The wastewater released from multiple points and nonpoint sources is increasing the magnitude of water pollution over the years. The consumption of contaminated surface and groundwater is responsible for the occurrence of health ailments of living organisms and loss of diversity in aquatic ecosystems. This chapter is designed with the objective to trace the role of wetlands in the effective phytoremediation of wastewater. The hydroponics based phytoremediation technique is a novel technique for the degradation of sewage, effluents, and agricultural runoff water using aerobic and anaerobic phases in a regular sequence. The wide acceptance of this alternative method is for minimal sludge formation during wastewater treatment with possible recovery of resources. This technology is gaining popularity for use at community levels due to the minimal involvement of skilled personnel, the least financial constraint, and limited chances of secondary pollution. Further study on this aspect is required to ameliorate the efficiency of wastewater phytoremediation.

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have led to a significant increase in wastewater generation, presenting a critical environmental challenge. Traditional wastewater treatment methods often fail to remove contaminants, especially recalcitrant organic compounds and heavy metals. In recent years, bioremediation using hydroponics has emerged as a promising and sustainable approach to tackle wastewater pollution. Hydroponics, a soilless cultivation technique, involves the growth of plants in nutrient-rich water solutions. This method offers several advantages for wastewater treatment, such as enhanced nutrient uptake, efficient water utilization, and minimal land requirements. The plant roots act as a natural filter, facilitating the removal of pollutants through adsorption, precipitation, and microbial degradation. The success of hydroponic systems for wastewater bioremediation relies on carefully selecting plant species and optimizing various factors, including pH, temperature, nutrient concentration, and hydraulic retention time. Certain plant species, known as hyperaccumulators, can accumulate high levels of heavy metals, thereby aiding in their removal from contaminated water. Integrating hydroponics with advanced technologies, such as biofilm reactors and microbial fuel cells, can further enhance the treatment efficiency and promote the conversion of pollutants into valuable resources. These combined approaches facilitate the removal of organic contaminants through plant–microbe interactions, enzymatic reactions, and microbial transformations. Implementing hydroponic systems for wastewater bioremediation helps purify water and offers additional benefits, including biomass production, carbon sequestration, and aesthetic improvement. Furthermore, this approach promotes the reuse of treated water for various non-potable applications, conserving freshwater resources and contributing to a circular economy. Bioremediation of wastewater using hydroponics represents a promising and sustainable solution to address growing water pollution concerns. This approach combines the natural abilities of plants and microorganisms, providing an efficient and eco-friendly method for wastewater treatment. Future research efforts should focus on optimizing system design and plant selection and exploring the potential for scaling up these systems to meet the demands of large-scale applications.

Agriculture and the use of land were inextricably linked to human existence in the natural world during the evolution of society. Human involvement was not limited to the manufacturing of agricultural products but additionally included the creation of many different kinds of industrial-made items, mining, and the use of fossil fuels as a conventional technique of generating energy. However, increased urbanization has contributed to the loss of the natural world over the last several years. The demand for the advancement of new agricultural methods is constant and continuously a warm topic, especially in light of the many challenges that traditional farming faces. These problems have been solved by the novel advancement technique known as hydroponics. Hydroponics is a technique of cultivating crops that do not require soil and they grow the plant using solutions of minerals and nutrients in an aquatic solvent. Hydroponic cultivation has also been utilized for environmental remediation. Hydroponic systems are designed to eliminate pollutants from water or soil and are used to grow plants. The present study has focused on hydroponics systems for sustainable agriculture and environmental clean-up. In this article, we also discuss the current challenges for hydroponics and their future opportunities.

Demands from the agricultural sector to provide the rising population’s needs for fresh produce, together with population growth and urbanization, have severely strained the world’s natural water resources. Water is thus no doubt one of the most important resources in the modern era. Aquatic weeds which are difficult to completely eradicate, are typically considered as a global threat to both humans and the aquatic ecosystem. Nevertheless, several studies and research have demonstrated their importance in the field of wastewater phytoremediation, whether in created wetlands, open ponds, or hydroponic systems in a cost-effective and environmentally acceptable manner with little to no sludge waste. Phytoremediation is the employment of plants to clean up contaminants or lower their bioavailability and using this technique to treat wastewater is referred to as wastewater phytoremediation. Plant body parts come in direct contact with contaminants are considered as the active surface area for phytoremediation. Hydroponics, a soil less method of growing plants in vertical farming, has a promising and economical role in phytoremediation of wastewater and heavy metal by the modest space requirements. Most of the hydroponic studies only feature a single plant species, either rooted or free floating. Grasses having rapid growth rate and large root biomass are preferred. Though foliar surface, root and shoot system have their own mechanism in reducing the contaminants, a key approach of improving the effectiveness is to increase their surface area which in turn provide additional areas for microbes to grow, absorb and take up nutrients. In addition to its use in organic food and ornamental plant culture, the value of hydroponically produced plants in toxicological investigations is firmly established. An alternative sustainable solar energy source or devices can be employed to power the hydroponic systems in order to get good results at a reasonable price.

Soil is widely acknowledged as the optimal medium for promoting plant growth. Besides providing physical support to plants, soil serves as a source of nutrients. However, several factors can hinder plant growth, including the presence of disease-causing microorganisms, depletion of soil fertility, erosion of topsoil, and inadequate soil drainage. Additionally, challenges such as the availability of abundant water resources, a larger land area for cultivation practices, and an adequate labor force pose difficulties for crop production in conventional agricultural fields. The situation becomes even more challenging in urban areas where space for cultivation is limited. Moreover, variations in geographic and topographic factors further restrict the availability of suitable land for cultivation. Consequently, soilless cultivation methods, such as hydroponics, have emerged as a promising solution.

With an expanding population, food production and other developmental activities increase. These activities are the primary cause of increasing soil, water and environmental pollution. Several physical, chemical and biological methods have been developed to remove these contaminants, but these methods could be more economical and environmentally sound. Nowadays, organic pollutants like pesticides, dyes, pharmaceuticals, oils, phenols, etc., have become a severe problem causing pollution to the aquatic environment. Hydroponics is gaining importance because it is environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Many aquatic plants like Lemma minor, Eichhornia crassipes, Junsus effuses, Pontederia cordata, Potamogeton crispus, etc., can reclamation organic pollutants in water. There are various techniques like rhizofiltration, phytodegradation, phytovolatilisation, phytoextraction and phytostabilization utilizing which these plants can remove the contaminants from water. This chapter discusses macrophytes’ potential to remove organic pollutants thoroughly.

Hydroponics is a relatively new farming technology that involves growing crops or plants without the need of soil. This method has lately gained popularity due to its capacity to ensure rapid development, greater quality, and increased yields. The idea that drove the research and development of hydroponics was the necessity to solve the problems that prevent plants’ roots from efficiently absorbing water, oxygen, and nutrients. This was the driving force behind hydroponics. Significant interest has recently been shown in two innovative techniques: hydroponics, the soil-less cultivation method, and environmental bioremediation, the use of living organisms to eliminate or neutralize contaminants. As water waste treatment and heavy metal contamination become increasingly pressing issues, these products provide viable solutions. These cutting-edge methods have the potential to dramatically alter how environmental toxins are handled by tapping into the energy of plants.

Since numerous pollution sources considerably contribute to poor water quality, the availability of potable and high-quality drinking water is a severe global concern. Several of these pollution sources are spreading a variety of dangerous substances into different environmental and water matrices. Among the significant environmental contaminants are heavy metals. Even if there are already a number of techniques for getting rid of these toxins, the most of them are expensive and challenging to use effectively. There are, sadly, not many eco-friendly solutions that can be used to exclusively treat contaminated environments. As a result, exposure to heavy metals in water causes a variety of illnesses in people, including cytotoxicity and cardiac ailments. Currently, phytoremediation, phytoaccumulation and phyto-stabilization are emerging, effective and affordable technological solution used to extract or remove inactive metals and metal pollutants from contaminated water. These technologies have the potential to be economically and ecologically sound. In hydroponics, plants are grown without soil using a water-based nutrient solution. Growing medium used in this method can include aggregate substrates like vermiculite, coconut coir, or perlite. Using hyperaccumulating plants, this method can also be used to successfully remove heavy metals from contaminated water. Recent advances in biotechnology are expected to play a promising role in the development of new hyperaccumulators by transferring metal hyperaccumulating genes from low biomass wild species to the higher biomass producing cultivated species in the times to come.

Hydroponics, an innovative method of cultivating plants without soil, has gained significant attention as a promising solution for sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture. This abstract explores the concept of hydroponics as a means to shape a greener future. Traditional farming practices often rely on vast amounts of arable land, excessive water usage, and harmful chemical fertilisers, resulting in environmental degradation. In contrast, hydroponics offers an alternative approach by utilising nutrient-rich water solutions to provide plants with essential elements for growth. By eliminating the need for soil, hydroponics reduces water consumption by up to 90% and minimises the risk of soil erosion and nutrient runoff. The controlled environment in hydroponic systems enables precise management of temperature, light, and nutrient levels, resulting in accelerated plant growth and higher yields than traditional farming methods. Hydroponics allows for year-round cultivation, allowing growing crops in regions with unfavourable climates or limited arable land. The eco-friendly nature of hydroponics extends beyond water conservation and efficient land use. This method also eliminates the need for chemical pesticides, as the controlled environment reduces the risk of pests and diseases. Closely monitoring nutrient solutions in hydroponic systems enables targeted application, reducing fertiliser waste and minimising the release of harmful substances into the environment. Hydroponics has found applications in various settings, ranging from small-scale indoor gardens to large-scale commercial operations. Its versatility makes it suitable for urban agriculture, where limited space and contaminated soil pose significant challenges. Hydroponics can be integrated into vertical farming systems, maximising land utilisation and reducing transportation costs associated with long-distance food distribution. Hydroponics presents a promising path toward an eco-friendly future in agriculture. Its resource-efficient nature, reduced reliance on chemicals, and adaptability to diverse environments make it an attractive option for sustainable food production. As further research and technological advancements continue to enhance the efficiency and affordability of hydroponic systems, their widespread adoption can transform the agricultural landscape, contributing to a greener and more sustainable planet.

Aqueous vegetation, with its densely intertwined roots and rhizomes, produces buoyant screens in hydroponic root mats (HRMs), which are eco technological wastewater treatment methods. The water zone beneath the root mat and the base of the treatment system is subject to a preferred hydraulic flow. Devices like this may also act as a hydroponic root mats filter if the mat hits the bottom of the reservoir, allowing the hydraulic flow to be channeled immediately to the root zone. Wastewater from households, agricultural effluents, polluted rivers, lakes, stormwater, groundwater, and mine drainage with acid are only few of the water kinds that were treated with hydroponic root mats. This chapter of the book introduces the idea of using hydroponic root mats filters for wastewater treatment, both those that float and those that don’t. We compare the benefits and drawbacks of this technique with that of ponds, floating plant beds, and soil-based man-made wetlands, and offer metrics for performance.

Thisi review examines the possibility of soilless cultivation systems as a means of overcoming resource scarcity in many places of the world, such as good soil and clean water. The conventional usage of arable land is becoming more difficult, especially in light of climate change. Soilless farming systems not only allow you to save water and grow plants without soil, but they also allow you to grow food in urban locations, such as residential rooftops, near to where people dine. The review compares the uses of soilless farming systems to those of conventional farming.i It examines economic viability, sustainability, and current events in this field. The review discusses three major soilless farming systems: hydroponics, aquaponics, and vertical farming. In terms of how they affect the environment, these systems are distinguished from one another and compared to conventional cultivation techniques to the maximum extent possible. In order to set the framework for future research and practical applications, the review compares published data on the yield of hydroponic cultivation systems with soil-based cultivation methods. This research provides an overview of how profitable each strategy is. The review also compares the sustainability of the most major neutral substrates used in hydroponics to highlight their environmental effects and assist future projects in selecting the appropriate substrate. The review examines the major soilless cultivation systems and discusses the difficulties and improvements to current approaches. It seeks to provide a comprehensive image of soilless farming systems so that further research may be conducted and they can be deployed in the actual world in the future.

Heavy metal removal from polluted hydroponic solutions is a key challenge in contemporary agriculture. Due to its affordability and ecological consciousness, bio-sorption, a biotechnological technique, has gained interest as an effective heavy metal expulsion technique. The study presents the findings of several investigations about various bio-sorbents for heavy metal removal in hydroponic systems, including bacteria, fungus, algae, and plant-based materials. It emphasizes bio-sorption mechanisms such as adsorption, chelation, ion exchange, and phytoremediation, which aid in binding heavy metals to the bio-sorbent surface. The review also goes through the variables influencing bio-sorption effectiveness, including pH, temperature, contact duration, and metal level. It has shown remarkable removal efficiency for different heavy metals from hydroponic solutions, including lead, cadmium, copper, arsenic, chromium, and nickel. Furthermore, bio-sorption is an appealing choice for heavy metal removal in hydroponic systems because of its low cost, convenience of use, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the possibility of bio-sorbent regeneration, reusability, and the long-term impacts of bio-sorption on plant development and soil health should be investigated. Finally, bio-sorptive heavy metal removal from hydroponic solutions appears to be a potential technique for controlling heavy metal pollution in agricultural systems. The assessment’s outcomes indicate that biosorption can be a successful and sustainable technology for heavy metal removal in hydroponic systems, but additional study is required to improve the procedure and investigate its long-term effects.

Hydroponics has emerged as a significant method for phytoremediation, providing an innovative approach to tackle environmental pollution. This paper explores the application of hydroponics in phytoremediation, focusing on its advantages and potential as a sustainable and efficient remediation technique. Through a systematic review of relevant literature, the paper highlights the fundamental principles of hydroponics and its ability to promote plant growth while enhancing the uptake and detoxification of contaminants from polluted environments. Moreover, the abstract discusses various hydroponic systems and their adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. Additionally, the role of hydroponics in improving the overall efficacy of phytoremediation processes is analysed, emphasizing its ability to reduce the time and space required for plant growth and pollutant removal. The paper also addresses potential challenges and limitations associated with hydroponics-based phytoremediation and proposes future research directions to optimize the method further. Overall, this abstract sheds light on the promising potential of hydroponics as a significant method for phytoremediation, providing a green and sustainable approach to combat environmental pollution.

As plants have the capacity to absorb nutrients, harmful metals, and developing pollutants, hydroponic systems can be employed as a treatment procedure for partially treated wastewater or reclaimed water before its release to the environment. Hydroponic systems are an alternative to stop water pollution and scarcity because of their high rates of nutrient removal from wastewater, including N, P, and K. Because they employ ecologically friendly methods, hydroponic systems are regarded as a crucial technology for food production in cities in terms of sustainability. However, since the vast majority of research on hydroponics with recycled water has been done at the laboratory scale, testing full-scale systems is important to show that it is viable.