ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of duckweed-based wastewater treatment in an integrated concept of recycling and re-use of valuable waste components. It focuses on duckweed as a key step in waste recycling is due to the fact that it forms the central unit of a recycling engine driven by photosynthesis and therefore the process is sustainable, energy efficient, cost efficient and applicable under a wide variety of rural and urban conditions. Aquatic plants used in wastewater treatment are generally considered to not contribute directly to biodegradation processes. Their role is more of a supportive nature, providing surface area for attached biofilms, providing oxygen for aerobic metabolism, and stimulating quiescent conditions in the water phase which enhance settling processes. With more information becoming available, the supporting role of macrophytes and their contribution to overall treatment efficiency is increasingly being recognized. The application of anaerobic technology results in a substantial reduction of organic matter and suspended solids from wastewater.
