Phytoremediation plants of metals in leached urban solid waste Phytoremediation in landfill

Abstract

Leachate is among the main pollutants in landfills, specifically because its components can cause danger to the environment. One of the treatment options is phytoremediation, which is an efficient technique with low environmental impact and reduced costs. The potential for phytoremediation of heavy metals in plants exposed to Urban Solid Waste leachate from a final disposal site located in Tabasco, Mexico was evaluated. Five plant species predominant in the landfill coverage were selected and identified: Pennisetum purpureum, Cyperus esculentus, Canna indica, Dactylotenium scindicun and Echinochloa colona. Subsequently, leachate samples were collected from each plant and adjacent soil for determination of Heavy Metals through ICP-OES (n=3). The metals with the highest concentration in the leachate were Ba and Zn. Independently of the species, Barium was absorbed at a higher concentration. The higher Bioconcentration Factor was observed in Thallium by D. scindicum and C. indica, and the Translocation Factor identified hyperaccumulating species: E. colona (Zing and Barium) C. indica (Zing and Barium), P. purpureum (Thallium) and D. scindicum (Barium and Thallium).