The Effects of Seasonal Variations on Typha capensis and Heliconia psittacorum in the Remediation of Heavy Metals from Soil and Water

Wiafe Samuel,Owusu Michael,Buamah Richard

doi:10.3844/ajassp.2018.510.518

Abstract

Different plant species have been used in the remediation of different heavy metals. The performance of a macrophyte to remediate heavy metals may be dependent on a lot of factors which may include water chemistry, metal solubilityand temperature. The objective of this research was to ascertain the effects of seasonal variations on the remediation of heavy metals. To this end,two macrophytes: Typha capensis and Heliconia psittacorum were employed in the remediation of Arsenic, Lead, Mercury and Cadmium under two seasons (dry and wet). The plants were dosed withknown concentrations of the heavy metals under different temperature and humidity for a period of forty days. The plant samples were subjected to heavy metal analysis by Atomic absorption spectroscopy. The exposure of the heavy metals uptake under seasonal variations showed that, the remediation of the four selected heavy metals by the two plants were very effective during the dry weather conditions than that of the wet weather conditions.

Highlights

Submerged macrophytes may be useful in reducing heavy metal concentrations in soil/water; they have the ability to take up heavy metals directly from water and accumulate them in their shoots
The uptake increased with exposure time and this implied that the rate of uptake was dependent on the number of days themacrophytes were exposed to the heavy metals
The results of this study has shown that T. capensis and H. psittacorum have the potential of remediating Arsenicfrom contaminatedwater bodies

Summary

Introduction

Submerged macrophytes may be useful in reducing heavy metal concentrations in soil/water; they have the ability to take up heavy metals directly from water and accumulate them in their shoots. A lot of macrophytes have been used in the remediation of different heavy metals from water and soil. The conditions that may affect the macrophytes ability to absorb the heavy metals from soil/water needs to be researched into. In a tropical climate like that of Ghana, the temperature and humidity varies with the season and that affects the growth of plants most especially aquatic macrophytes. The seasonal variations in temperature and humidity affects water bodies which serves as one of the vital sources of requirements plants needs to grow. The water temperature may exceed 30°C in the dry season and can decrease to as low as 21°C or below in the wet season.Water temperature may influence water chemistry, metal solubility and metal uptake by plants and plant growth.The thrust of this research was to ascertain the effects of seasonalvariations on the remediation of heavy metals (Arsenic, Lead, Mercury and Cadmium) by Typha capensis and Heliconia psittacorum

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Conclusion