Phytoremediation Potential of Eichhornia crassipes for Elemental and Organic Pollutant Removal from Water-Based Drilling Mud Leachates

Water-based drilling muds (WBMs), widely employed in oil and gas exploration, pose significant environmental risks due to their complex matrix of heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).This study evaluated the phytoremediation efficacy of Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) in reducing the toxicity of WBM leachates over a six-week period.Leachates were simulated using a modified ASTM method and diluted to various concentrations.Elemental analysis was conducted using ICP-OES, while hydrocarbons and VOCs were quantified using GC-FID and GC-Headspace techniques, respectively.The results revealed substantial reductions in key toxic elements such as aluminium (from 47.55 to 9.63 mg/L), chromium (0.67 to 0.15 mg/L), lead (0.27 to 0.15 mg/L), and manganese (2.62 to 0.96 mg/L) following phytoremediation.Although metal concentrations were not universally brought within regulatory thresholds (WHO/NESREA), the data suggest a notable capacity for metal uptake by E. crassipes.Hydrocarbon analysis demonstrated differential leachability, with low molecular weight compounds such as C8 and C11 being more mobile, while heavier fractions (C21-C28) remained bound within the mud matrix.VOC accumulation in plant tissue confirmed the uptake of benzene and chlorinated benzenes, underscoring the plant's capacity for sequestering organic pollutants.Despite promising results, Phytoremediation