Phytoremediation potential of some heavy metals by water hyacinth

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Date
2010-04
Authors
Okunowo, W.O.
Ogunkanmi, L.A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Abstract
The phytoremediation potential of water hyacinth plant (Eichhornia crassipes) was investigated on some metals. The plants were grown for 7 days each in phytoremediation tanks containing a solution of 100 ppm concentration of either Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe), Cadmium (Cd), Magnesium (Mg), Copper (Cu) or Calcium (Ca). The change in fresh weight was examined. The percent removal of the metals by the plant was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry on the acid digest of the plant. The biomass decreased insignificantly (P>0.05) in the water hyacinth grown in the test solution and increased by 5.72 % (g/g) in the control. Metal uptake occurred to varying degrees. The highest amount of metal uptake per dry weight of water hyacinth was 13.52 ppm of potassium and lowest, 0.01ppm of lead
Description
Keywords
Metals, phytoremediation, water hyacinth
Citation
Okunowo, W.O. and Ogunkanmi, L.A. 2010. Phytoremediation potential of some heavy metals by water hyacinth. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences. 4(2): 347-353