Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals ( Cu , Zn , and PB ) Contaminated Water Using Water Hyacinth ( Eichornia Crassipes ) 1
Water samples contaminated with heavy metals (Zn, Cu and Pb) were subjected to phytoremediation method using water hyacinth (E. crassipes) for the period of 8 weeks. The study involved the preparation of the heavy metals solutions in different concentrations (their pH values supplemented) into eight 40L plastic containers, with six containers having the solutions of heavy metals (Zn, Cu and Pb in their replicates) while two plastic containers served as the control. Thereafter, the experiment was monitored and analyzed for 8 weeks for metal accumulation by the plant. Water analysis was carried out to know the concentration of heavy metals present in the water during these periods and the plants were also analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results obtained were further interpreted using SPSS (T-test) to determine the mean concentration obtained from week 1 to week 8.The results obtained for Zn were 0.28 ,0.23 ,0.13 ,0.04 ,BDL,0.02 ,BDL,BDL .Also the results obtained for Cu from week 1 to week 8 were 0.04 ,0.07 ,0.03, BDL ,BDL ,BDL ,BDL ,BDL. More so, the results obtained for Pb from week 1 to week 8 were 0.13, 0.45, 0.05, BDL, BDL, BDL, BDL, BDL. At the end of the 8 weeks of remediation, it was observed that the concentrations of the metals in the water were below the detection limit but accumulated in the plant. Also, the results of the Bioconcentration factor (BCF) showed that the investigated plant (E.crassipes) hyperaccummulated Zn than other heavy metals. Therefore, heavy metal uptake by E. crassipes using phytoremediation technology seems to be a prosperous way to remediate heavy metal contaminated environment.
A review on the phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon.
Oil spillage as a result of petroleum industry activities and pipe-line vandalization by saboteurs is a frequent occurrence in oil-producing regions of the world. Conventional oil spill clean-up techniques involve physical and chemical processes that do more damage to the aquatic ecosystem than the oil spill itself. Consequently, the need arises to evolve or develop a more environment-friendly technique that will not only clean-up the environment but also restore the aquatic ecosystem to its status before the oil spill. Phytoremediation, which involves the use of plant to detoxify polluted site, appears to be promising in this regard. It is environment-friendly as well as cost-effective but may take more time than the conventional methods because it is a natural process.
Plants‐associated microflora and the remediation of oil‐contaminated soil
Abstract The use of plants and their rhizospheric microorganisms is a promising emerging technology for remediating contaminated soils. The degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in the rhizospheric and nonrhizospheric soil of three domestic plants, namely, alfalfa (Medicaga sativa) broad beans (Vicia faba) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was investigated. The experimental data from the studies of plantmicrobe‐soil interactions implicated the enhancement of TPH degradation by the rhizospheric microbial community. Although the three domestic plants exhibited normal growth in the presence of ∼1.0% TPH, the degradation was more profound in the case of leguminous plants. The TPH degradation in the soil cultivated with broad beans and alfalfa was 36.6 and 35.8%, respectively, compared with 24% degradation in case of ryegrass. Such a high correlation between plant type and TPH degradation rates indicate that selection for enhanced rhizosphere degradation may be accomplished by selecting leguminous plants.