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.
The combined effects of phytoremediation and biostimulation in enhancing habitat restoration and oil degradation of petroleum contaminated wetlands
Abstract The combined effects of biostimulation and phytoremediation as a means of post-oil spill habitat restoration and enhancement of oil degradation in the soil were evaluated. Marsh sods of Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens were dosed with 0, 4, 8, 16 and 24 l m −2 of south Louisiana crude oil in the greenhouse. Plants were killed at oil dosages of 8 l m −2 in the growing season following oil application. Two years after application of the oil, S. alterniflora and S. patens individuals were transplanted into the oiled and unoiled sods. Fertilizer was applied 1 and 7 months after transplantation. Application of the fertilizer significantly increased biomass of the transplants within 6 months and regrowth biomass of the transplants 1 year after transplantation for both plant species. The residual oil in the soil did not significantly affect the biomass of the S. patens transplants compared with that in the no oil treatment, except at the highest oil level. However, regrowth biomass of the S. alterniflora transplants treated with fertilizer was significantly higher at all oil levels up to 250 mg g −1 than in the unoiled treatment, with or without fertilizer. The oil degradation rate in the soil was significantly enhanced by the application of fertilizer in conjunction with the presence of transplants. These results suggest that vegetative transplantation, when implemented with fertilization, can simultaneously restore oil contaminated wetlands and accelerate oil degradation in the soil.