Multifaceted Pollutant Removal by : A Phytoremediation Approach.

The increasing discharge of nutrient and metal-laden effluents into saline environments demands sustainable remediation strategies. This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of , a halophytic plant, under hydroponic conditions using varying concentrations of three macronutrients-nitrate (NO), phosphate (PO), and calcium (Ca)-and three heavy metals-lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu). The plant exhibited high removal efficiencies across all treatments, with Pb and Cr reaching nearly 99% removal within two days, while macronutrient removal showed a steady, time-dependent increase over the 14-day period. Several biochemical parameters, including proline content and antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase), were significantly affected by treatments, with most showing dose-dependent responses to heavy metal exposure, indicating strong biochemical resilience. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed pollutant-specific structural shifts and identified -OH, -NH, and -COO groups as key binding sites. The study quantifies the removal efficiency of for both nutrients and metals and provides mechanistic insight into its ionic stress response and binding pathways. These findings establish as a viable candidate for integrated phytoremediation in saline, contaminated water systems.