The phytoremediation of crude oil-polluted aquatic environment by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms)

A phytoremediation experiment was carried out in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeria to examine the ability of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) to detoxify crude oil-polluted aquatic environments. There were fifteen (15) experimental units; twelve (12) had water hyacinth grown in them while three (3) had no water hyacinth. 100g of water hyacinth per litre of water were separately grown in 20mgl-1, 40mgl-1, 60mgl-1 and 0mgl-1 (Control A) crude oil. Another three (3) experimental units were seeded with 40mgl-1 of crude oil but no water hyacinth (Control B). The quantities of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) absorbed by water hyacinth in treatments seeded with crude oil (20mgl-1, 40mgl-1 and 60mgl-1) was significantly (