Screening for Resistant and Tolerable Plants (Ludwigia octovalvis and Phragmites karka) in Crude Oil Sludge for Phytoremediation of Hydrocarbons

Phytoremediation is a process which utilizes plants to remove contaminants from the environment. It is the latest alternative to treatment technique that needs to identify potential plants and their ability to resist toxicity of contaminants before a full scale system can be installed to ensure that the remedy is effective by the selected plants. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of two native plants in Malaysia, Ludwigia octovolvis and Phragmites karka, to survive when exposed to real crude oil sludge. The experiment was performed in a greenhouse for 15 days. The observation was made three times a week. The plants were also watered using tap water to ensure the plants could grow. After 15 days of observation, the two plant species had shown that they could grow and survive in pots with 100% of crude oil sludge. From this preliminary test, L. octovolvis and P. karka showed their initial ability to treat sand contaminated with crude oil sludge. As a conclusion, both native plants have the potential in the phytoremediation process of hydrocarbon and will be used in future prolonged phytoremediation of crude oil sludge.