COMPARATIVE STUDY ON ACCUMULATION OF CADMIUM IN THREE AQUATIC PLANTS

This study demonstrates the comparative phytoremediation potential of three aquatic plants viz; Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes and Lemna minor for the removal of cadmium (Cd). The plants were cultured in tap water, which were supplemented with different concentrations of Cd and were separately harvested after 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs. The experiment showed that the removal of Cd from solution was fast especially on 24 hrs in all the plants. Among the three plants percent removal was highest in Lemna minor i.e. 97.86% in 24hrs. Maximum metal accumulation was observed in the dry biomass of Lemna minor (20.21mg/g dry wt) followed by Pistia stratiotes (9.045 mg/g dry wt) and Eichhornia crassipes (6.29 mg/g dry wt) at highest initial concentrations. There was gradual decrease in chlorophyll content with increase in concentration and the highest reduction was observed in Lemna minor (99.9%) as compared to Pistia stratiotes (90.4%) and Eichhornia crassipes (83.2%)