International Journal of Phytoremediation最新文献

This study examines the impact of airborne particulate matter (PM) and associated trace elements (TEs) on deciduous and coniferous trees at the edge of Wigry National Park in northeast Poland, focusing on pollution levels and the potential for phytoremediation. Researchers measured PM concentrations in the air and on the leaves of Picea abies, Quercus robur, and Corylus avellana, along with photosynthetic indicators (Fv/Fm ratio and performance index). The study found significant differences in pollution intensity across areas with varying levels of human activity. P. abies, an evergreen species, accumulated the highest PM levels (>200 μg/cm²), while Q. robur had the highest accumulation among deciduous trees (>50 μg/cm²). Trace elements such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, and Cd were detected, with C. avellana being the most efficient in accumulating Cd (up to 7.5 mg/kg). The accumulation of pollutants correlated with reduced photosynthetic efficiency in trees closest to pollution sources. The findings suggest that strategically planting specific tree species can help mitigate air pollution in national parks and protect sensitive vegetation. Future research should explore the long-term effects of PM on forest health and the role of different species in phytoremediation.

Present study identified metal accumulation potential, biochemical, growth, and human health risk attributes of wheat varieties (Zincol-16, NARC-09, NARC-11, Pakistan-13, Borlaug-16) cultivated in sewage sludge amended soils, that is, 80% soil + 20% sludge (C), 90% soil + 10% sludge (B) and 100% soil (control, A). Metal accumulation significantly varied (p < 0.05) among wheat varieties and the accretion pattern was roots > straw > grains. The Borlaug-16 was found most efficient for biochemical attributes, that is, proline (0.84), sugar (2.76) and total chlorophyll (2.35) in mg/g amongst selected varieties. Among treatments, maximum mean total chlorophyll (2.18), carotenoids (0.97), sugar (2.88) in mg/g, plant height (76.04 cm), weight per 1000 kernel (55 g) and spike length (4.17 cm) were recorded in B followed by A > C. However, mean membrane stability index%, that is, A (82.76)>B (75.26)>C (54.35) and mean proline contents, that is, C (0.49)>B (0.39)>A (0.29) in mg/g were recorded respectively. Mean hazard quotient and hazard index (HI) calculated on the basis of grain metal contents followed the trend, that is, C > B > A. The HI results revealed highest and lowest health risks associated with the consumption of Zincol-16 and Borlaug-16, respectively. The 'Borlaug-16' and 'sludge treatment B' are recommended for cultivation and as rate of application, respectively, for ensuring food safety and agro-ecological health.

Cadmium (Cd) has shown toxicity to reduce growth and productivity in different plants. The Present study investigated the efficacy of menadiol diacetate (MD) to reduce Cd stress on growth and yield of summer squash plants. The experiment was performed under saturated Hoagland's nutrient solution (control) while the other group was supplemented with 0.1 mM CdCl₂ (Cd stress). Surface sterilized seeds of summer squash were primed in different concentrations (10, 20 µM) of MD as well as in distilled water for 24 h and sown in the pots. Different morphological and physio-biochemical attributes were determined after 35 d of growth whereas the data for yield attributes was collected after 70 d. Cd concentration was determined in various subcellular compartments i.e., cell walls and cell wall debris, chloroplast, cell membrane and other organelles including vacuoles. The Cd stress decreased photosynthetic pigments, osmoprotectants and ultimately caused reduction in the yield attributes. Further, it increased the secondary metabolites and oxidants (MDA and H₂O₂) in the summer squash tissues. Cd exposure also altered ions accumulation in the summer squash tissues by increasing the root and shoot Ca²⁺ (24-93%) and Fe (4-18%) ions while decreasing the Mg²⁺ (31-39%) ions. The MD-priming, particularly at 10 µM concentration mediated increase in the total phenolics, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanins concentration, and thus enhanced growth and yield attributes of summer squash exposed to Cd toxicity. Further, 10 µM MD-priming facilitated Cd compartmentalization in the subcellular compartments mainly in the cell wall (58%) rather than in the chloroplast (18%), cell membrane (7%) and soluble fractions (18%). In this context, cell wall and vacuole were the key compartments for Cd sequestration. This study highlights MD-priming as a potential strategy to counter Cd toxicity in summer squash plants.

Adsorption is one of the most efficient ways to eliminate hazardous metals. The study evaluated the effectiveness of banana peel biochar as a cheap adsorbent to remove hazardous metals from landfill leachate. The landfill leachate of 100 mg/L was mixed with banana peel biochar (0.50, 1.50, and 3.00 g each) and placed in a water bath for 15, 30, and 45 min at a constant temperature of 30 °C and 35 °C. The adsorption efficiency of banana peel biochar for nickel in the leachate ranged from 98.76% to 98.96% and chromium ranged from 99.71% to 99.77% at a temperature of 30 °C for 15 mins and 99.07% to 99.27% for Ni and 99.71% to 99.73% for Cr at a temperature of 35 °C for 45 min. Banana peel biochar maximum adsorption capacity of nickel ranged from 1.15 × 10^-5 mg/g to 5.27 × 10^-6 mg/g, and 1.05 × 10^-5 mg/g to 6.76 × 10^-6 mg/g for chromium. Adsorbent made from less expensive banana peel can affordably remove nickel and chromium from landfill leachate. To acquire a broad understanding of the adsorbent's application, more adsorptive research utilizing banana peels as an adsorbent to treat various wastes ought to be conducted.

Urbanization and industrialization are exponentially deteriorating air quality, ecosystems, and human health. Phytoremediation is cost cost-effective, sustainable, and nature-based solution against air pollution. This study is designed to evaluate four species, Chlorophytum comosum, Rhapis excelsa, Spathiphyllum wallisii, and Ficus benjamina for their phytoremediation potential. The experimental setup consisted of a sealed chamber to place potted plants and equipment, it was also connected to the vehicular exhaust pipe. The Air Pollution Tolerance Index was highest for F. benjamina (12.19) and lowest for Rhapis excels (8.58). C. comosum has the highest VOC removal efficiency (90%, 0.172 ppm h^-1). NO_x remediation was highest by F. benjamina with 0.057 ppm h^-1 (77%) removal efficiency. SO_x and CO were remediated more efficiently by C. comosum, as 89%, (0.18 ppm h^-1) and 80% (0.23 ppm h^-1), respectively. R. excelsa reduced a higher concentration of NH₃ (77%, 0.06 ppm h^-1) compared to other species. R. excelsa and S. wallisii may serve as bio-indicator species. These findings provide a sustainable, natural, economical, and eco-friendly way to mitigate air pollution. F. benjamina and C. comosum are suitable species for urban landscapes, green spaces, urban plantations, and green walls to curb air pollutants due to traffic and industries.

In the current study, coal fly ash contaminated soil was collected in and around Mettur Thermal Power Station, Salem district, Tamil Nadu. The metal concentrations present in the coal fly ash soil samples were analyzed and also used for the isolation of bacteria. The isolates were screened for their multi-metal resistance against three heavy metals (Cu, Ag and Pb) and plant growth-promoting traits (siderophore, phosphate solubilization, IAA, cellulase, HCN, and ammonia production). Among the 12 isolates, the WA4 strain revealed promising results for both metal-resistant and plant growth-promoting activity. In the in vitro pot experiment, Spinacia oleracea (Palak), Red amaranth (Red spinach), Capsicum annum (Green chilly) and Solanum melongena (Brinjal) plants were grown in ash-contaminated soil treated with different concentrations of selected bacterial inoculum (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) along with a control pot. The results of the study indicated that the ash-contaminated soil treated with bacterial inoculum distinctly increased the growth of plants when compared to untreated soil (control). Thus, the best-performing strain WA4 could be utilized as a good bio-stimulant for promoting the growth of selected plants in the re-vegetation programs of ash-contaminated soil.

This study addresses the environmental challenge posed by the invasive Prosopis juliflora plant by converting its stem into activated carbon for the adsorption of Methylene Blue dye from water. The goal is to create an effective and sustainable wastewater treatment solution. Prosopis juliflora stems were harvested, cleaned, dried, carbonized, and activated with zinc chloride to create Prosopis Juliflora Stem Activated Carbon. This activated carbon was characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope imaging. Results revealed a significant surface area of 158.107 m²/g and the presence of functional groups essential for adsorption processes. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the efficiency of activated carbon in removing Methylene Blue dye at various dosages and contact times. The highest adsorption efficiencies were 73.5% at 80 min, 90.1% at 60 min, and 90.65% at 50 min for dosages of 80, 100, and 120 mg, respectively. These findings show that Prosopis Juliflora Stem Activated Carbon is highly effective at removing Methylene Blue dye, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of wastewater treatment.

In this study, three microalgae species were cultivated using dairy and fish wastewater: Haematococcus pluvialis, Coelastrella saipanensis, and Chlorella sp. The process involved manipulating various physicochemical conditions, to determine optimal growth parameters. Our evaluation considered cell count, biomass productivity, specific growth rate, pigments, carbohydrates, proteins, lipid compositions, and cellulose stored in microalgae. A significant observation of highest cellulose accumulation was recorded in C. saipanensis cultivated in dairy waste (DW) medium (2.54 ± 0.042 µg/mg). In contrast, the species grown in fish waste (FW) media recorded a lower level (0.9405 ± 0.06 µg/mg) of cellulose. In DW, H. pluvialis and C. saipanensis accumulated substantial amounts of astaxanthin and carotenoid, respectively. Carbohydrate, protein, and lipid accumulation was maximized in DW culture, with H. pluvialis exhibiting a more incredible carbohydrate content. Lipid analysis showed as Chlorella sp. was capable of accumulating alpha-linolenic acid. The disparity may be attributed to DW's nutritional and mineral content, which encourages cellulose deposition. The FTIR analysis confirmed the accumulation of cellulose. These findings underscore the potential of DW and FW media as valuable resources for microalgal biofuel and ethanol production, offering a hopeful future for sustainable energy production.

The toxic Cr(VI) contaminating water released from the metallurgical, dyeing, and electroplating industries is getting worse day by day and is extremely hazardous to human health. Thus, the development of a cost-effective, quick, and efficient adsorbent is highly essential for the Cr(VI) decontamination from wastewater. Herein, a microwave-assisted carbon-based composite called Mg-Fe LDH@OPAC was prepared by assembling Mg-Fe LDH onto orange peel-activated carbon (OAPC). Prior to investigating deeply into the adsorption behavior of the composite, the Mg-Fe LDH@OPAC formation was confirmed by using instrumental techniques like FESEM, EDS, Zeta potential, XRD, FTIR, Raman, XPS, and BET analyzer. The material had a high surface area of 143.9 m²/g and showed a good monolayer Langmuir uptake capacity of 118.36 mg/g. Under ideal circumstances, the maximum amount of Cr(VI) was removed within just 120 min and showed high efficiency in the presence of other coexisting anions respectively. The adsorption was accounted by pseudo-second-order kinetics and spontaneous in nature. Ultimately, a possible adsorption mechanism was suggested, confirmed by XPS studies; which showed that oxidation-reduction, electrostatic interaction, and surface complexation reaction were responsible for Cr(VI) adsorption on Mg-Fe LDH@OPAC surface.

First time in this study, hybrid Cu nanoflowers (Cu hNFs) were synthesized with Cystosphaera jacquinotii algae extract and the pH-dependent catalytic activities of hNFs synthesized under optimum conditions against brilliant blue and methylene blue dyes were determined. Ideal morphology of hNFs, were synthesized by using 1 ml extract in PBS (pH 7.4). The diameter and petal thickness of optimum synthesized hNF were 7-22 µm, and 35.5 nm, respectively. Main skeleton component (C, O, P, and Cu) of hNFs were determined by EDX. The presence of functional groups and primary phosphate crystals formed by Cu and phosphate reaction in the PBS buffer were confirmed by FT-IR analysis. The hNFs exhibited the antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 1.27 mg/ml, R² = 0.6971) against to DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1- (2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl). hNFs degraded methylene blue and brilliant blue dyes at the highest at pH 9 (73.85%) and pH 5 (68.19%) media, respectively. Catalytic activities of hNFs against methylene blue and brilliant blue dyes were explained by Fenton mechanism. The findings are thought to be used in new type hNF synthesis and various environmental applications.