Abstract: Biomaterials, such as aquatic ferns, offer an attractive and economically efficient method for wastewater treatment. In this study, we investigated the ability of Azolla pinnata to assimilate trace metal elements. The experiment was conducted in Spring 2024 at the device installed in the experimental plot of the Department of Agricultural Sciences of the SNV Faculty of Ferhat ABBAS Sétif-1 University. Industrial wastewater from the industrial municipal zone was collected and contaminated with a package of trace metal elements salts (Cd, Pb, Cu, Ag) according to the National Company of Electrochemical Products (ENPEC) standards. Azolla pinnata was grown in these waters for three weeks. Plant biomass was monitored throughout the experiment, and samples were taken every week to monitor the variation in trace metal element concentrations. The results showed that Azolla  pinnata plant biomass suffered a sharp decline due to the toxicity of absorbed trace metal elements.  Even so decrease rate of Cadmium (Cd) was optimal from the first week with 100%. In comparison, the reduction rate of Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu) and Silver (Ag) were 75%, 55% and 50%, respectively. This study revealed that Azolla  pinnata is effective in treatment of industrial wastewater contaminated by trace metal elements.

Keywords: Biomaterials, decontamination, aquatic ferns, Azolla pinnata, trace metal elements.