Abstract
The effectiveness of using Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) in phytoremediation of wastewater has been proven. In this study, the phytoremediation potential of C. zizanioides planted in Cr- and Ni-contaminated soil was evaluated through investigating the behaviors on uptake and release of metals. Three treatments: control, Cr, and Ni, with three concentrations (50, 150, and 300 ppm), were applied. The potential of C. zizanioides is assessed by the determination of metal uptake rate, metal release rate, bioconcentration factor (BCF), biological absorption coefficient (BAC), and translocation factor (TF). The experiment showed that Cr uptake was higher than release rate and on the other hand low in uptake and release of Ni. Accumulation of Cr and Ni was 167.8 mg kg−1 and 66.3 mg kg−1, respectively. Excess of Cr in the soil was absorbed in high uptake rate making vetiver grass suitable for Cr phytoremediation. During 28-day uptake and 28-day release periods, it was found that BCF, BAC, and TF values in some treatments showed greater than 1 (one) and Ni-treated plants were able to translocate Ni to aerial plant parts supported by its high TF value. Low acidity of soil causes low solubility and low mobility of metals, resulting in low metal absorption. C. zizanioides has shown the potential as a heavy metal-tolerant species and could be potentially used as phytoremediation alternative species at least in lightly polluted areas.
Highlights
Heavy metal in wastewater presents a critical threat to our environment
It is necessary to establish the correlations between bioavailability of metals in the environment and tissues by using bioconcentration factors and the cause of biological effects that result from metal concentration in soft tissues
The collected data were calculated to obtain the value of bioconcentration factor (BCF) as the ratio of heavy metal concentration in the roots to the soil, biological absorption coefficient (BAC) as the ratio of heavy metal concentration in leaves to the soil, translocation factor (TF) as the ratio of heavy metal concentration in leaves to root, metal uptake rate, and metal release rate [11, 15, 37, 38]
Summary
Heavy metal in wastewater presents a critical threat to our environment. Mining and manufacturing industries, such as electroplating, contribute an immense quantity of heavy metals that pollute the air, soil, and groundwater [10, 18, 22, 29]. Phytoextraction utilizes the ability of uptake and accumulation of metals into plant shoots, while phytostabilization utilizes the plant’s ability to minimize metal mobility in contaminated soils. The means to establish these correlations are to achieve the ultimate aims: to predict and diagnose the cause–effect of exposure to heavy metals and environmental stress and the resultant ecological and biological effects [37]. In this study, the former was focused upon. Previous studies indicated cadmium (Cd) phytostabilization potential of C. zizanioides, which was found to have no significant Cd toxicity symptoms throughout the experiments, indicating high adaptability and tolerability of heavy metals [25]. Metal release rate, bioconcentration factor (BCF), biological absorption coefficient (BAC), and translocation factor (TF) were determined
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