Phytotransformation of methylene blue from water using aquatic plant (Azolla pinnata)

The objective of the present research was to investigate the ability of the aquatic plant, Azolla pinnata as a biomass media to absorb dye (Methylene blue, MB) from water. Three different concentrations of dye were employed (5, 15, 25 mg/L) with 3 g of Azolla pinnata. The dye concentration was analysed through absorbance with a UV/Vis spectrophotometer and showed reduction from 0.09, 0.81, and 1.9 at day 0 and decreased to 0.06, 0.03, and 0.05 for 5, 15, 25 mg/L dye concentrations respectively throughout 5 days. The decolourization of 25 mg/L dye was further observed hourly within 24 h and its phytotransformation of MB dye was analysed using gas chromatography and the results show that the highest decolourization of MB blue was 85%, giving evidence that natural biomass media of floating plant (Azolla pinnata) is capable to transform and mineralize methylene blue dye and it can be successfully employed to treat dye-contaminated water