10–14 Nov 2025
Office of Grants and Research
Africa/Accra timezone

Phytoremediation Potential of Arsenic-Contaminated Mine Wastewater at Ghana Manganese Company, Nsuta-Tarkwa, Ghana

13 Nov 2025, 12:45
15m
Office of Grants and Research

Office of Grants and Research

Oral Presentation Climate Resilience, Environmental Sustainability, and Food Systems

Speaker

Dr Nat Owusu-Prempeh (Department of Forest Resources Technology, KNUST)

Description

The discharge of arsenic-contaminated mine wastewater poses severe ecological and health risks in mining communities. This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of three plant species, Chrysopogon zizanioides (Vetiver grass), Typha latifolia (Cattail), and Pteris vittata (Chinese brake fern) for treating arsenic-contaminated pit wastewater at the Ghana Manganese Company, Nsuta-Tarkwa. A 4x3 Completely Randomised Block Design experiment was employed, consisting of four experimental hydroponic tanks (one control and three treatments) and three replicates, with each tank containing 12 L of wastewater at an initial arsenic (As) concentration of 1.00 mg/L. Weekly measurements of As concentration and physico-chemical parameters of wastewater were done. After six weeks, changes in As concentration, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and turbidity of the wastewater, and plant growth and survival in the hydroponic tanks were determined. Phytoremediation performance followed the order Vetiver > Cattail > Fern. Vetiver achieved the highest As removal (75%, final concentration 0.00 mg/L), followed by Cattail (47%, 0.53 mg/L) and Fern (45%, 0.55 mg/L). Similarly, plant survival ranked Vetiver (95%), Cattail (81.7%), and Fern (75%). Arsenic accumulation was mainly in roots for Vetiver and Cattail, but in leaves for Fern. Translocation factors were 0.51 (Vetiver), 1.08 (Cattail), and 2.10 (Fern), indicating Vetiver’s strong root stabilization and limited translocation to above-ground tissues. Overall, Vetiver demonstrated superior tolerance, uptake efficiency, and low-cost applicability, making it a sustainable alternative for mitigating arsenic-contaminated mine wastewater compared to conventional treatment methods.

Primary author

Dr Nat Owusu-Prempeh (Department of Forest Resources Technology, KNUST)

Co-authors

Mr Kwadwo Omanhene Ofori (Department of Forest Resources Technology, KNUST) Ms Olivia Fremah Amo-Sarfo (Ghana Manganese Company, Tarkwa) Prof. Collins Ayine Nsor (Department of Forest Resources Technology, KNUST)

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