Abstract
The study assesses the performance of experimental wetland pond systems vegetated by Lemna
minor L. (common duckweed or lesser duckweed) for textile azo dye removal. The objectives are to
assess the influence of L. minor on water quality parameters, compare the dye and chemical oxygen
demand (COD) removal of four dyes (Acid Blue 113, Reactive Blue 198, Direct Orange 46 and Basic
Red 46) with each other, and monitor the effect of dye accumulation as a function of the relative growth
rate (RGR) of L. minor. Findings indicate that the simulated shallow pond systems remove BR46 (low
concentration) significantly (p < 0.05) higher than other dyes, and the ponds containing L. minor outperformed
control ponds by around 51% in mean removal efficiency with a potential of L. minor for
phytoremediation of approximately 13% efficiency.