Performance of Aquatic Plant Species for Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals Contaminated Water

Abstract

Heavy metals and organic pollutants are ubiquitous environmental pollutants affecting the quality of soil, water and air. Over the past 5 decades, many strategies have been developed for the remediation of polluted water.  Use of aquatic plants to extract, sequester and/or detoxify pollutants and is a new and powerful technique for environmental clean up. Plants are ideal agents for soil and water remediation because of their unique genetic, biochemical and physiological properties.  The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential of free floating duck weed Spirodela polyrhiza to remove heavy metals from waste water and the biochemical effect of heavy metals on Spirodela polyrhiza. Approximately 93% of total heavy metal induced – toxicity appears resulting in the reduced activities of nitrate reductase, total chlorophyll and protein content of the plant. The results recommended the use of Spirodela polyrhiza to ameliorate the wastewater contaminated with heavy metals.