Effects of Main Chemical Compounds in Cooking Oil Fume Condensates (COFCs) on Growth of Salvinia natans (L.) All.: II. Hexadecane

Hexadecane is one of the main chemical compounds in Cooking Oil Fume Condensates (COFCs), which has been proved to influence the vegetative growth of Salvinia natans (L.) All. significantly. Its effects on the growth of S. natans were studied by using static toxicity testing method in this paper. The results showed that relative growth rate (RGR), leaves, buds and stems of S. natans were inhibited significantly when exposed to higher concentrations. Hexadecane could accelerate the leaves of S. natans becoming yellow or decomposed. Biomass went down with the increase of hexadecane concentrations. The LC₅₀ on day 4 and day 12 after treatment were 275 mg/L and 244 mg/L, respectively. Hexadecane had no effect on the pH value and conductivity of the cultivation medium. It can be concluded that hexadecane would significantly affect the vegetative growth of S. natans., and S. natans is sensitive to hexadecane that might be useful as an indicator of hexadecane pollution in freshwater.