Abstract
The main source of heavy metals in most soils is sewage sludge. Naturally, the heavy metals in soils are transported to vegetations and cultivated crops. These pollutants need to be either reduced or eliminated in the soil to remediate the effects to man, animals, plants, soils, and groundwater. Hence, Jatropha curcas seedlings were planted on six different media to determine the concentration of heavy metals. Thereafter, it was discovered that Jatropha curcas plants through their roots, stems and leaves metabolism, morphology and mechanisms can reduce the concentration of heavy metals like Zinc, Lead, Chromium, Cadmium, and Copper etc effectively from any medium containing 100% sewage sludge. Thus, it was discovered that Jatropha curcas plant is suitable as a phytoremediator of heavy metals in soils.
Highlights
Worldwide, heavy metals cause pollution which is a serious environmental crises
Harmful inorganic pollutants in the soil like heavy metals can be eliminated through phytoremediation mechanisms and techniques
Using Completely Randonized Lesign (CRD), each pot was labeled according to its composition, e.g. T0 (100% soil), T1 (80% soil and 20% sewage sludge), T2 (60% soil and 40% sewage sludge), T3 (40% soil and 60% sewage sludge), T4 (20% soil and 80% sewage sludge), and T5 (100% sewage sludge)
Summary
Heavy metals exist in soils as free metal ions, soluble metal complexes, exchangeable metal ions, organically bound metals, precipitated or insoluble compounds like oxides, carbonates and hydroxides They cause soil pollution by the repeated increase daily or weekly application of sewage sludge, municipal wastes, animals slurries, activities of mining, smelting and agricultural industries, and impurities in fertilizers, herbicides, germicides and decomposition and burning of fossil fuels. The environmental pollutants are different types of solvents like trichloroethylene (TCE), atrazine, trinitroluene (TNT), oil, gasoline, benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and fuel additives (Hong et al 2001) These are inorganic pollutants which include plant phosphate, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ni, Zn, and Cu, and non-essential elements like As, Cd, and Hg (Batiha, et al, 2008). Harmful inorganic pollutants in the soil like heavy metals can be eliminated through phytoremediation mechanisms and techniques
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