Bioaccumulation of Trivalent Chromium in the Aquatic Macrophytes Typha domingensis L. and Pontederia parviflora Alexander

Abstract

The phytoremediation employs the use of plants and is rapidly gaining interest due to effective and inexpensive cleanup of wastewater contaminated with metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides and chlorinated solvents. This study compares the performance of the Typha domingensis and Pontederia parviflora under similar conditions, in the absorption of trivalent chrome. The determination of the absorption capacity of the species was set in four tests of survival. The aquatic macrophytes were maintained in solution of 1.5L with concentration of trivalent chromium of 70mg.L. -1 for 72 hours. At the end of the experiment the concentration of chromium in T. domingensis was 85% and 60% in P. parviflora . The concentration of Cr in P. parviflora was high in shoots and high levels of Cr were found in roots of T. domingensis indicating that the plants have difficulties to translocate Cr from the roots to shoots. Thereby, our findings indicate P. parviflora for treatment of wastewater with high concentrations of chromium and T. domingensis has its use limited in this type of treatment.