Phytoremediation potential of some heavy metals by water hyacinth

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. © 2010 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Metals, phytoremediation, water hyacinth