Sorption and retention of Pb, Cu and Cd ions in three species of mosses used for air pollution studies in Nigeria

The capacities of the mosses Rhacopilopsis trinitensis (C. Muell) Britt.et Dix., Stereophyllum virens Card., and Thuidium gratum (C. Muell) Jaeg. to sorb and retain Pb, Cu and Cd ions from solution were studied. All the species showed very high capacities to sorb these metal ions from single-ion as well as mixed-ion solutions. Ca and Mg ions were most readily released from the moss tissues on sorption of the metal ions. The sorbed metal ions were strongly retained in the moss tissues, but may be significantly leached out by strongly acidic solutions. The three species did not differ remarkably in their capacities to sorb and retain the metal ions.