Evaluation of Trace Metals Uptake by Some Plants Close to Some Industrial Zones in Khartoum City

The study aimed to evaluate the uptake of trace metals by the tissues of some plants which grow inside, or in the peripheries of, pools of water contaminated by waste water from neighboring industrial complexes in Khartoum City. It also aimed to verify the possibility of making use of this phenomenon in combating metal pollution in water and wastewater catchments. The flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) was used to find the concentration of the subject metals in waste water and algal biomass of the phyla Chlorophyta, Cyanophyta, and Bacillariophyta; and in newly grown leaves of Calotropis procera in addition to their stems and roots. The physical parameters studied were pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of waste water. The metals studied in waste water, algal biomass and C. procera were Fe, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cr. The study covered during summer and autumn 6 sites in Khartoum city industrial complexes. Samples were collected, and analyzed for TMs concentration levels. The algal biomass was found to be more efficient for TMs uptake and accumulation than the three parts of C. procera. Among the parts of C. procera, the root was more efficient for TMs uptake than the leaf, while the stem was the least efficient