Title: AQUATIC PLANTS FOR BIOREMEDIATION OF WASTE WATER
Abstract: The ability of aquatic plants to accumulate heavy metals was examined in Bahr in El Bakar drain as one of the first sized drains in Egypt heavily polluted with heavy metals. Metal enrichment was found to be dependent on the plant species and metal type. The most efficient plant species in accumulating heavy metals were Eichhornia crassipes (floating plant), Ceratophyllum demersum and Potamogeton crispus (submerged plants), Typha domingensis and Phragnites australis (emergent plants). Metals in all species were higher in roots than shoots. The data of biological accumulation factor (the ratio of heavy metal content of the plant/water) for all plant species decreased in the order: Fe (1845) > Cd (650) > Cr (452) >Zn (291), Ni (279) and Mn (280) > Co (100) >Cu (59) > Pb (9.7). Greenhouse experiment indicated that metal Concentration in Eichhornia crassipes or Ceratophyllum demersum increased with increasing concentration of these metals in the solution. The values of coefficient of transfer, T.C. (the value of increase in metal concentration in plant to the respective value in the media) tended to decrease with increasing the level of heavy metals in solution. For Cd, Co, and Ni the T.C. at metal concentration in solution of 2 ppm was about 1200 for roots of Eichhornia crassipes and about 1000 for Ceratophullum demersum. Values of T.C. for Pb were lower being 700 for Eichhornia crassipes and 850 for Ceratophyllum demersum. The values show the tremendous capacity of both plants to accumulate heavy metals from the media and therefore their usefulness in ameliorating polluted water.
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 6
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