Abstract
Department of Chemistry and Physics, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723, U.S.A.Received June 14, 2012, Accepted June 18, 2012The use of plants to remove toxic metals from soil (phytoremediation) is emerging as a cost-effectivealternative to conventional methods for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated soil. Indian mustard(Brassica juncea) was used as the plant to accumulate high tissue concentrations of lead when grown incontaminated soil. For this study, the application of an electric field combined effectively with EDTA-enhanced phytoremediation. A stimulation of direct and alternating electric potential was compared andEDTA-enhanced phytoremediation of lead using Indian mustard has been performed. The effects ofexperimental parameters such as operating voltage with different concentration of EDTA, the number ofgraphite electrodes, and cultivation period on the removal of toxic metal were studied. Shoot leadaccumulations in Indian mustard increased as the concentration of EDTA and dc electric potential wasincreased. Two to four folds was increased when EDTA plus a dc electric potential was applied, compared toan ac electric potential. The maximum lead accumulation in the shoots was achieved by applying EDTA plusdc electric potential with 6 graphite electrodes.Key Words : Phytoremediation, Lead, Indian mustard, Electrodics, EDTAIntroductionPhytoremediation is the use of living plants and the plantprocesses to reduce hazardous materials in environment.
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