Phytoremediation Of Lead Research Articles

Phytoremediation of lead polluted mine soil by synergistic effect of chelating agents and nitrogen in hemp

Industrial hemp is a valuable fibrous plant with high biomass production for it can survive under variable environmental stresses including heavy metals and is used in a wide range of products. This research work aimed at determining the growth potential of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) developed on lead (Pb) contaminated mine soils using various chelating agents viz., ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid (CA) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) under various concentrations of nitrogen (N) fertilizer such as 0 (control), 50, 150, 250 and 350 kg ha−1. Results indicated that the synergistic effect of chelating agents and rising concentrations of N fertilizer resulted in a linear increase in hemp growth and dry biomass. The chelating agent and N mediated showed better response in the photosynthetic, antioxidative, and osmolytic potential of hemp as compared with control. The concentration of N and Pb plants showed a differential response such as N accumulation was maximum in plant leaf and shoot portions as compared to the roots. In contrast, Pb enrichment was higher in the roots than in the plant’s leaves and stems when exposed to varying concentrations of N fertilizer and chelating agents in the soil environment. Biomobilizaiton of Pb in the plant continuum enhanced with the rising N fertilizer levels in the soil. The EDTA showed better phytoextraction potential as compared with the rest of the chelating agents. Hence, findings suggest that the synergistic application of chelating agents and N fertilizer is a far more effective technique that increases the bioavailability of Pb for phytoextraction and decreases Pb-induced oxidative injuries by restricting Pb uptake.

Assessment of growth, metal uptake efficiency and yield traits of castor bean genotypes for phytoremediation of lead contaminated soils of Chakera-Faisalabad having history of long term irrigation with waste water

The agricultural soil of Chakera village, Faisalabad, Pakistan is under significant threat due to irrigation with wastewater containing Pb. Castor bean (Ricinus communis L.), a non-edible oil seed crop showed considerable capacity for phytoremediation of heavy metals. Restoration of Pb contaminated soil of Chakera using castor bean until physiological maturity could be an effective approach for mitigating hazardous impacts of Pb contamination in the soil. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the growth, biochemical traits, phytoremediation potential, and yield attributes of two castor bean genotypes (NIAB-2020 and DS-30) under the conditions of two different soil-filled pots; uncontaminated soil of NIAB (0 mg Pb kg−1) and contaminated soil of Chakera (250 mg Pb kg−1). Results have shown that plant agronomic, biochemical and seed compositional analysis have revealed a faint drop on Chakera soil. Metal accumulation response resulted in highest shoot Pb uptake in DS-30 compared to NIAB-2020. Conversely, maximum Pb uptake in roots of NIAB-2020 (4470 µg plant−1) was recorded when compared with DS-30 (3576 µg plant−1). Highest translocation factor (TF) was calculated for DS-30, whereas, for the metal tolerance index (MTI), both genotypes exhibited non-significant difference. Interestingly, concentration of Pb in seeds remained undetected for both genotypes. The study indicates that NIAB-2020 exhibited slightly higher tolerance than DS-30, potentially leading to economic gains through widespread use of castor oil across industries, positioning castor bean as a promising candidate for rehabilitation of contaminated soils. Nevertheless, additional in-situ investigations are necessary to validate the findings of current pot study.

Influence of biochar amendment on removal of heavy metal from soils using phytoremediation by Catharanthus roseus L. and Chrysopogon zizanioides L.

Advances in sustainable toxic heavy metal treatment technologies are crucial to meet our needs for safer land to develop an urban resilient future. The heavy metals bioaccumulate in the food chain due to their persistence in the soil, which poses a serious challenge to its removal and control. Utilisation of hyperaccumulators to reduce the mobility, accumulation and toxic impact of heavy metals is a promising and ecologically safe technique. Amendments such as biochar and chelates have been shown to enhance the phytoremediation efficiency. However, the potential soil improvement is influenced by the properties of the amendment, plant and metal heterogeneities. In this study, an organic sugarcane bagasse biochar amendment for the 60-day pot experiment using Catharanthus roseus L. (NT) and Chrysopogon zizanioides L. (VT) in a heavy metal-contaminated soil was applied. The influence of biochar on the phytoremediation of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) from the soil was explored. The plant survival rate enhanced to 100% with biochar amendment, and the biomass increased from 5.83 to 15g in Zn-contaminated samples. Nutrients such as potassium concentration are directly correlated to the amendment rates, whereas phosphate decreases beyond the 2% biochar amendment rate in both plants. High heavy metal accumulation capacities with improved growth with biochar indicate the sustainability of the process. The translocation factor (TF) > 1 for Zn in NT represents the phytoextraction efficiencies whereas VT indicates high BCF values in the range of 0.5-3.53 for the amended Zn-contaminated soils. The findings indicate that the amendment rate of 2% improves nutrient cycling, plant biomass and heavy metal removal efficiencies. The insights from this study establish that the synergy between biochar amendment and the selected medicinal plants improved the phytoremediation efficiency.

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Conyza canadensis.

Many plant species are known to take up metals from the soil and accumulate them to potentially toxic levels. This may provide tolerance to soils with high metal content or a defensive mechanism against herbivores and pathogens. Accumulators, plants that uptake and store elevated concentrations of metals, can be used in phytoremediation as a means to remove metals from contaminated soils. In this study, the native weed Conyza canadensis was grown in soils contaminated with elevated levels of lead (Pb), barium (Ba), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), or chromium (Cr). All metals, except for Cr, were accumulated by the plants. Zinc and Cu, both essential elements, accumulated to the highest levels, while Pb and Ba were present at lower levels. All treatments except Cr showed accelerating rates of accumulation over the eight-week experiment. Barium, Cu, and Cr reduced aboveground biomass of the plants, indicating toxicity or a cost to metal accumulation. Lead and Zn promoted early flowering, while plants accumulating Ba, Cr, and Cu flowered in lower numbers. Overall, C. canadensis has promise in the phytoremediation of Pb, Cu, and Zn.

Phytoremediation of Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg) Contaminated Soil Using Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Phytoremediation of Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg) Contaminated Soil Using Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Efficiency of Some Plants Grown on Roadsides of Baqubah City in the Phytoremediation of Lead and Cadmium

Efficiency of Some Plants Grown on Roadsides of Baqubah City in the Phytoremediation of Lead and Cadmium

Assembly patterns and key taxa of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere soil of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) under different Cd and Pb pollution

Moso bamboo is excellent candidate for cadmium (Cd)/lead (Pb) phytoremediation, while rhizosphere microbiome has significant impact on phytoremediation efficiency of host plant. However, little is known about the rhizosphere bacterial communities of moso bamboo in Cd/Pb contaminated soils. Therefore, this study investigated the assembly patterns and key taxa of rhizosphere bacterial communities of moso bamboo in Cd/Pb polluted and unpolluted soils, by field sampling, chemical analysis, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results indicated α-diversity between Cd/Pb polluted and unpolluted soils showed a similar pattern (p > 0.05), while β-diversity was significantly different (p < 0.05). The relative abundance analysis indicated α-proteobacteria (37%) and actinobacteria (31%) were dominant in Cd/Pb polluted soils, while γ-proteobacteria (40%) and α-proteobacteria (22%) were dominant in unpolluted soils. Co-occurrence network analysis indicated microbial networks were less complex and more negative in polluted soils than in unpolluted soils. Mantel analysis indicated soil available phosphorus, organic matter, and available Pb were the most important environmental factors affecting microbial community structure. Correlation analysis showed 11 bacterial genera were significantly positively related to Cd/Pb. Overall, this study identified the bacterial community composition of bamboo rhizosphere in responding to Cd/Pb contamination and provides a theoretical basis for microbe-assistant phytoremediation in the future.

Association between weeds and plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria in the phytoremediation of lead-contaminated soil

Lead is a persistent heavy metal in the soil that can accumulate in edible plants, so non-polluting strategies are required for its removal. In this study, the efficiency of weeds with associated rhizobacteria in phytoremediation of soil contaminated with lead (800 ppm) was investigated. Weeds with lead tolerance were selected, as well as rhizobacteria that promote plant growth in vitro. Several bacterial consortia (BC) were applied on three weed species, and the weight of the aboveground biomass of the weeds, the phytotoxicity of the soil after phytoremediation, as well as the parameters of the phytoremediation of lead in the soil with lower phytotoxicity, were evaluated. As a result, 20% of the weeds analyzed were tolerant to lead with indices of 0.80 (Echinochloa colona (L.) Link), 0.76 (Cyperus corymbosus Rottb.), and 0.72 (Sorghum halepense). BC solubilized phosphates, produced indole acetic acid, and increased the fresh biomass of plants (4.14-14.32%). Furthermore, the lowest level of phytotoxicity in the soil was detected in the treatment of E. colona (L.) Link with Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. (BC1), as well as a bioaccumulation factor of 0.1650 in the foliage, 1.0250 in the roots, and a translocation factor of 0.1611. Finally, 78.83% lead removal was determined in E. colona (L.) Link with rhizobacteria, compared to the 57.58% obtained with E. colona (L.) Link without rhizobacteria. The efficiency of the association of weeds and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with lead was demonstrated.

Improving Lead Phytoremediation Using Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from the Pioneer Plant Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) from a Mining Area.

This study aimed to isolate and characterise endophytic bacteria from the pioneer plant Ageratina adenophora in a mining area. Seven strains of metal-resistant endophytic bacteria that belong to five genera were isolated from the roots of A. adenophora. These strains exhibited various plant growth-promoting (PGP) capabilities. Sphingomonas sp. ZYG-4, which exhibited the ability to secrete indoleacetic acid (IAA; 53.2 ± 8.3 mg·L-1), solubilize insoluble inorganic phosphates (Phosphate solubilization; 11.2 ± 2.9 mg·L-1), and regulate root ethylene levels (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity; 2.87 ± 0.19 µM α-KB·mg-1·h-1), had the highest PGP potential. Therefore, Sphingomonas sp. ZYG-4 was used in a pot experiment to study its effect on the biomass and Pb uptake of both host (Ageratina adenophora) and non-host (Dysphania ambrosioides) plants. Compared to the uninoculated control, Sphingomonas sp. ZYG-4 inoculation increased the biomass of shoots and roots by 59.4% and 144.4% for A. adenophora and by 56.2% and 57.1% for D. ambrosioides, respectively. In addition, Sphingomonas sp. ZYG-4 inoculation enhanced Pb accumulation in the shoot and root by 268.9% and 1187.3% for A. adenophora, and by 163.1% and 343.8% for D. ambrosioides, respectively, compared to plants without bacterial inoculation. Our research indicates that endophytic bacteria are promising candidates for enhancing plant growth and facilitating microbe-assisted phytoremediation in heavy metal-contaminated soil.

Phytoremediation of Toxic Lead from Contaminated Soil Using Neyraudia reynaudiana: Soil of Xuzhou as a Case Study

Lead (Pb), as one of the main pollution elements, has resulted in large-scale soil pollution around the world. Even if phytoremediation can solve this problem, the selection of restoration potential plants has always been a scientific problem. As a multifunctional repair plant, Neyraudia reynaudiana can rehabilitate both polluted soils and slopes. N. reynaudiana has been widely used in terrain restoration in southern China before. This study was the first to study the growth and Pb absorption and enrichment capacity of N. reynaudiana in Xuzhou, north of the Yangtze River. In this study, N. reynaudiana was planted in soils with different lead concentrations, and the change of lead content in roots, shoots, and soils, as well as the redox enzyme, was tested and analyzed during each growth stage. The results showed that the roots could absorb Pb and transfer 79.45% to the shoots at most. With the growth of the plant, the ability to accumulate and transfer gradually increased. Moreover, when the soil Pb concentration was above 800 mg kg−1, the ability to accumulate by N. reynaudiana was significantly restrained. Furthermore, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD) first acted on the redox response in the initial phase, while increasing the pollutant concentration or the growth of N. reynaudiana in the later stage, and the glutathione reductase (GR) redox system continued to feed back on the lead stress. This study proved that N. reynaudiana is a kind remediation plant for lead pollution soil and could repair soil with a lead pollution concentration lower than 800 mg kg−1. The results provide a theoretical reference for clarifying the action mechanism and threshold value of N. reynaudiana in rehabilitating soil lead pollution and provide practical guidance for the planting proportion of N. reynaudiana.

Comparing the potential of three dracaena species to remove lead (pb) from artificial aqueous media

The study was undertaken to compare the lead accumulation and removal of Dracaena sanderiana, Dracaena reflexa, and Dracaena deremensis on artificial lead solutions to apply plants in lead pollution treatment. The experiment consisted of 6 treatments corresponding to 3 investigated species of Dracaena. Each treatment was grown on 2 types of solution with Pb and without Pb used as control. The results indicated that the growth of D. sanderiana, D. reflexa, and D. deremensis was not affected at Pb concentrations of 100 ppm. All three plant species had the ability to absorb and accumulate Pb. In which D. sanderiana was a typical lead excluder because the lead concentration in roots (1952.14 mg/kg), shoots (221.78 mg/kg), and leaves (166.46 mg/kg) of the plants were the highest among the three plants tested. The most of lead accumulated in the root, and transportation of lead in D. sanderiana, D. reflexa, and D. deremensis from root to shoot was restricted. Besides, the highest % removal of Pb was found at D. sanderiana (93.16%) and the minimum of 66.77% at D. reflexa. D. sanderiana is the best choice among the three Dracaena species used for phytoremediation of lead contaminated wastewater.

Phytoremediation of Zinc and Lead from Polluted Soils Using Sunflower

Phytoremediation is a new, cost-effective remediation technique. Sunflower, a plant grown in Pb- and Zn-contaminated soils, underwent pot trials to examine its biomass and determine how well may remove the metals. According to the findings, the fresh and dry weights of the developing plants gradually reduced, as the amount of heavy metals in the soil increased. The fresh weights of the shoot and root were decreased by the application of 835 mg/kg soil of Pb and 598 mg/kg Zn. The maximum concentration of lead and zinc in the shoot (146.27and 277.83 mg/kg) and roots (589.77 and 287.97 mg/kg, respectively) was recorded in the plant cultivated in contaminated soil. The root growing on soil treated with 835 mg/kg had the maximum bioaccumulation of lead. The control soil had the longest plant shoot and root lengths, averaging 75.67 cm and 9.5 cm, respectively. Under a soil Pb concentration of 835 mg/kg, the shortest plants had shoots that measured 58.5 cm and roots that measured 6 cm. Similarly, when the soil was treated with 598 mg/kg soil zinc, the plant?s shoot and root decreased dramatically by 55.67 cm and 7 cm, respectively. As a result, the study shows that sunflower plants were better at absorbing lead and zinc, and we recommend using them to clean up soil that has been contaminated with these metals. . KEYWORDS :Sunflower, Heavy Metals, Lead, Phytoremediation, Zinc

Phytoremediation efficacy of Nerium oleander L. for removal of Cd, Ni, and Pb- contaminated soil

A pot experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of Nerium oleander L. in phytoremediation of cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb)- contaminated soil. This evaluation included the application of ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and a nutrient solution containing NPK. The results revealed that the inclusion of EDTA and NPK, in combination with varying metal concentrations, significantly increased the dry weight of the plants. The results demonstrated that oleander, when aided by EDTA and NPK, exhibited a high capacity to efficiently absorb and accumulate Pb without any amendments. The addition of EDTA increased Pb concentrations in both aerial parts and roots (84.9 mg kg-1 and 80.2 mg kg-1, respectively). For Nickel, in the presence of NPK, the concentration in roots was 80,2 mg kg-1. Cd accumulation was highest in the treatment with 100 mg kg-1 EDTA, reaching 72.9 mg kg-1 in the aerial parts. Particularly, NPK reduced Ni levels in aerial parts, while EDTA enhanced root metal uptake. The Translocation Factor (TF) was greater than 1 for Cd and Ni treatments, indicating oleander's remarkable ability to absorb and accumulate these heavy elements. The treatment involving Pb50+EDTA displayed the highest Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) value at 1.7. Furthermore, for Pb50, Ni50 and Cd50, the NPK treatment exhibited the highest Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) values, ranging from 0.3 to 1.69. Nerium oleander L. exhibits promise for both Ni phytoextraction and Cd and Pb phytostabilization, suggesting its potential as an effective phytoremediation agent. Future research should focus on optimizing metal uptake conditions and investigating long-term plant health and soil impacts to refine sustainable strategies for mitigating metal pollution in contaminated environments.

Enhanced lead phytoextraction and soil health restoration through exogenous supply of organic ligands: Geochemical modeling”

Phytoremediation of lead (Pb) contaminated soil is a green technology to reduce Pb exposure and root exudates-derived organic acids play a vital role in this treatment process. In this study, Pb hyperaccumulator Pelargonium hortorum was chosen to investigate root-induced organic acid secretions and their subsequent role in Pb phytoextraction. In the first step, root exudation of P. hortorum was investigated in hydroponic experiments (0.2X Hoagland solution) under control and Pb stress conditions. Possible chemical interactions between Pb and the observed root exudates were then analyzed using Visual MINTEQ modeling. In the next step, the effects of the exogenous application of organic acids on Pb phytoextraction and soil enzymatic activities were studied in a pot experimental setup. Results indicated significant exudation of malic acid > citric acid > oxalic acid > tartaric acid in root exudates of P. hortorum under 50 mg L−1 Pb. Visual MINTEQ modeling results revealed that organic acids directly affect Pb dissolution in the nutrient solution by modulation of solution pH. Experimental results revealed that malic acid and citric acid significantly increased available Pb contents (7.2– and 6.7–folds) in the soil with 1500 mg kg−1 Pb contamination. Whereas, in shoot and root, the highest increase in Pb concentration was observed with citric acid (2.01–fold) and malic (3.75–fold) supplements, respectively. Overall, Pb uptake was notably higher when malic acid was applied (2.8–fold) compared to other organic acids, followed by citric acid (2.7–fold). In the case of soil enzymatic activities, oxalic acid significantly improved dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and microbial biomass by 1.6–, 1.4– and 1.3–folds, respectively. The organic acids were successful in reviving enzyme activity in Pb-contaminated soil, and might thus be used for long-term soil regeneration.

Lead Tolerance and Enrichment Characteristics of Three Hydroponically Grown Ornamental Plants

Phytoremediation of lead (Pb) in contaminated soils using hyper-enriched plants is an important task. It is a green and sustainable measure. Studies have revealed that three ornamental plants, Tagetes patula (T. patula), Solanum nigrum (S. nigrum), and Mirabilis jalapa (M. jalapa), have the ability to enrich for Pb; however, studies on difference between them and root morphology and the relationship between tolerance and capacity are lacking. The ability of three lead-enriching plants, T. patula, S. nigrum, and M. jalapa, to cope with Pb stress was assessed in hydroponic experiments using five Pb stress concentrations (0–1000 mg/L). Under different Pb stress conditions, the growth of the shoots and roots of three tested ornamental plants was inhibited to varying degrees. In the three tested ornamental plants, Pb mainly accumulated in the roots, and the highest levels of Pb observed in the shoots of T. patula, S. nigrum, and M. jalapa were 1074.1 mg/kg, 958.7 mg/kg, and 975.3 mg/kg, respectively. All plants reached a critical level of Pb hyperaccumulation. Redundancy analysis showed that changes in the root architecture of the three tested ornamental plants were significantly and positively correlated with tolerance as well as the enrichment and transfer ability of the heavy metal Pb. Therefore, these three ornamental plants have the potential to remediate Pb-contaminated water and soil and can increase the tolerance and enrichment characteristics of Pb by regulating the root biomass and root length of the three test ornamental plants via various agronomic measures. In addition, more research should be conducted to assess their effectiveness as phytoextractants under field conditions.

Phytoremediation of Lead, Arsenic and Chromium Polluted Soil Using Opuntia spp. (Dilang-Baka)

Phytoremediation capabilities of Opuntia spp. were tested on heavy metal polluted soil collected in a metallurgical factory in Carmona Cavite. Initial soil testing shows traces of Arsenic: 8.48 mg/Kg, Chromium: 116 mg/Kg, and Lead: 79 mg/Kg. pH and moisture are neutral and dry. Opuntia was compared to A. vera, within two months. Final results show both can decrease concentrations of Arsenic and Lead but Chromium from Opuntia have increased concentration might be due to the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III).

Microbes-assisted phytoremediation of lead and petroleum hydrocarbons contaminated water by water hyacinth

An experiment was carried out to explore the impact of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs)-degrading microbial consortium (MC) on phytoremediation ability and growth of water hyacinth (WH) plants in water contaminated with lead (Pb) and PHs. Buckets (12-L capacity) were filled with water and WH plants, PHs (2,400 mg L−1) and Pb (10 mg L−1) in respective buckets. Plants were harvested after 30 days of transplanting and results showed that PHs and Pb substantially reduced the agronomic (up to 62%) and physiological (up to 49%) attributes of WH plants. However, the application of MC resulted in a substantial increase in growth (38%) and physiology (22%) of WH plants over uninoculated contaminated control. The WH + MC were able to accumulate 93% Pb and degrade/accumulate 72% of PHs as compared to initial concentration. Furthermore, combined use of WH plants and MC in co-contamination of PHs and Pb, reduced Pb and PHs contents in water by 74% and 68%, respectively, than that of initially applied concentration. Our findings suggest that the WH in combination with PHs-degrading MC could be a suitable nature-based water remediation technology for organic and inorganic contaminants and in future it can be used for decontamination of mix pollutants from water bodies.

Chromium and Lead Phytoremediation with Water Hyacinth and Use of Contaminated Biomass as Feedstock for Biofuel Production

Chromium and Lead Phytoremediation with Water Hyacinth and Use of Contaminated Biomass as Feedstock for Biofuel Production

Transcriptome-Wide Identification and Response Pattern Analysis of the Salix integra NAC Transcription Factor in Response to Pb Stress.

The NAC (NAM-ATAF1/2-CUC) transcription factor family is one of the largest plant-specific transcription factor families, playing an important role in plant growth and development and abiotic stress response. As a short-rotation woody plant, Salix integra (S. integra) has high lead (Pb) phytoremediation potential. To understand the role of NAC in S. integra Pb tolerance, 53 SiNAC transcripts were identified using third-generation and next-generation transcriptomic data from S. integra exposed to Pb stress, and a phylogenetic analysis revealed 11 subfamilies. A sequence alignment showed that multiple subfamilies represented by TIP and ATAF had a gene that produced more than one transcript under Pb stress, and different transcripts had different responses to Pb. By analyzing the expression profiles of SiNACs at 9 Pb stress time points, 41 of 53 SiNACs were found to be significantly responsive to Pb. Short time-series expression miner (STEM) analysis revealed that 41 SiNACs had two significant Pb positive response patterns (early and late), both containing 10 SiNACs. The SiNACs with the most significant Pb response were mainly from the ATAF and NAP subfamilies. Therefore, 4 and 3 SiNACs from the ATAF and NAP subfamilies, respectively, were selected as candidate Pb-responsive SiNACs for further structural and functional analysis. The RT-qPCR results of 7 transcripts also confirmed the different Pb response patterns of the ATAF and NAP subfamilies. SiNAC004 and SiNAC120, which were randomly selected from two subfamilies, were confirmed to be nuclear localization proteins by subcellular localization experiments. Functional prediction analysis of the associated transcripts of seven candidate SiNACs showed that the target pathways of ATAF subfamily SiNACs were "sulfur metabolism" and "glutathione metabolism", and the target pathways of NAP subfamily SiNACs were "ribosome" and "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis". This study not only identified two NAC subfamilies with different Pb response patterns but also identified Pb-responsive SiNACs that could provide a basis for subsequent gene function verification.

Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Soil by Catharanthus roseus

Heavy metals are contaminated that poses great environmental burden as they are hazardous to human, animal, plant health and the environment at large. In this study, Catharanthus roseus herbaceous ornamental plant was used for the phytoremediation of lead, nickel, zinc and chromium. Sample of soil was collected and analyzed for certain pollutants Pb, Ni, Zn and Cr. Also evidence of accumulation of these metals in the various plant parts studied was established using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). From the results, it was clear that the root of Catharanthus roseus were found to contain higher concentration of Pb, Ni, and Cr than the stem. After 60 days of experiment, the concentration of heavy metals in soil sample in decreasing order was found to be as Pb&gt;Cr&gt;Zn&gt;Ni respectively where as the accumulation of heavy metals in plant parts include Pb&gt;Cr&gt;Zn&gt;Ni. Finally, this study shows that the plant species was good accumulator of these heavy metals. Keywords: Heavy metals, contaminated soil, Accumulation, Catharanthus roseus