Employment of Some Aquatic Plants for Removal of Cadmium, Lead, and Copper from the River Water

Abstract

The world’s most valuable resource is water in addition to being essential to life, freshwater is also used in many other processes, including those that involve agriculture, industry, and human consumption due to interference with its quality, it continues to be a limited resource. Fresh potable water supply, particularly in urban areas, has been severely impacted by population increase, urbanization, and consumption. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the behavior of some heavy metals in the river waters via aquatic life represented by some aqua plants to achieve this three tanks of river water made from glass were prepared and injected with three heavy metals each which they are (copper, lead, and cadmium). The first tank represents the control (without any plants) while the second tank contains lentil plants moreover, the third tank contains the ceratophllum. The removal of heavy metals from river waters is enhanced by the presence of these plants using lentil plants and Ceratophyllum plants, respectively, led to removals of roughly 77% and 73% of the copper (Cu) content compared to the regular operation (control tank). For lead (Pb) removal, the Ceratophyllum removed about 72.6%, and the presence of lentil plant removes 52% of the Pb and only around 20% of the substance has been removed in the control tank. With ceratophullum present, there was a higher removal percentage of cadmium (45.9%)compared to tanks without aqua plants or lentil plants, which had removal rates of 21% and 42.3%, respectively. In general, necessary action to minimize the impact of discharging polluted wastewater must be taken to save aquatic life and the environment.