Journal of Bioremediation & Biodegradation

Abstrait

Phytoaccumulation Potential and Toxicity of Arsenic Ions by Eichhornia Crassipes in Hydroponic System

A. K. Giri and R. K. Patel

In this work, the phytoaccumulation efficiency of total arsenic (As) by the aquatic plant E. crassipes has been studied. Plants were cultured in double distillated water with modified 0.25 N Hoagland’s nutrient solution at pH 6.8 supplemented with 0, 0.010, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.10 mgL -1 equally mixing (1:1) arsenic (III) and arsenic (V). They were harvested after 0, 3, 9 and 15 days. Plants treated with 0.10 mgL -1 arsenic solutions, accumulated the highest concentration in roots (7.2 mg kg -1 , dry weight) and shoots (32.1 mg kg -1 , dry weight) respectively after 15 days. SEM-EDX and FTIR were used to characterize the interaction between arsenic ions and extract materials of E. crassipes shoot biomass. The FTIR spectra indicated the binding characteristics of the arsenic ions involved the hydroxyl, amide, amino and thiol groups in the biomass. The relative growth and bio-concentration factor of plants at different concentration of arsenic solutions significantly increases (P < 0.05) with the passage of time. From the above studies it is clear that the plant E. crassipes can be used successfully for the removal of arsenic ions by phytoremediation process.