Phytoremediation of Three Heavy Metals Using Duckweed (Lemna minor)
Fitoremediasi Tiga Logam Berat Menggunakan Duckweed (Lemna minor)
-
(1) Huda Hilo Ali Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Misan
Iraq
(2) * Sadiq Kadhum Lafta Alzurfi
Departments of Ecology and Pollution, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa
Iraq
(3) Nawfal hussein kudhair Aldujaili Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kufa
Iraq
(*) Corresponding Author
Abstract
Today, the world faces the problem of water pollution with heavy metals, which have toxic effects on living organisms, including humans. Treating this water pollution requires using low-cost, environmentally friendly techniques. Therefore, we selected the Lemna minor plant to investigate its capacity to phytoremediate some heavy metals in a laboratory. Three harmful metals for the aquatic environment were chosen: nickel (1, 5, and 10 ppm), cadmium (0.5, 2, and 4 ppm), and lead (0.5, 5, and 10 ppm), in addition to a control group. Removal ratio, relative growth rates (RGR), and bioconcentration factor (BCF) were measured under controlled light and temperature conditions. The highest removal efficiencies by Lemna minor of Cd, Pb, and Ni ranged between 92% (at 0.5 ppm), 99.7% (at 0.5 ppm), and 99.75% (at 1 ppm), respectively. The lower ratio recorded 28.6% in 10 ppm on the 1st day. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) for each metal per unit (kg/L) was recorded as follows: 10,550 for cadmium on the 14th day at 0.5 ppm, 385,352 for nickel at 1 ppm on the 21st day, and 484,382 for lead at 0.5 ppm on the 21st day. The results show significant varying effects of cadmium, nickel, and lead on the removal ratio and relative growth rate of organisms in the closed system. Further analysis is needed to understand the long-term effects and determine the precise mechanisms responsible for these different responses.These results suggest that L. minor is a suitable candidate for the removal of heavy metals from polluted water bodies
Highlights:
- Heavy metals pollute water, harming organisms.
- Lemna minor tested for Cd, Pb, Ni phytoremediation.
- High removal efficiency; suitable for eco-friendly water treatment.
Keywords: BCF, Heavy metals, RGR,. Phytoremediation, Lemna minor.
References
S. Ali et al., "Application of Floating Aquatic Plants in Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals Polluted Water: A Review," Sustainability, vol. 12, no. 5, p. 1927, 2020.
A. Singh and S. Kumar, "Application of Aquatic Plants Dead Biomass in Remediation of Heavy Metals Pollution by Adsorption: A Review," Indian Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 15, no. 16, pp. 729-735, 2022.
S. Ashraf et al., "Endophytic Bacteria Enhance Remediation of Tannery Effluent in Constructed Wetlands Vegetated with Leptochloa Fusca," International Journal of Phytoremediation, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 121-128, 2018.
A. Kumar et al., "Phytoremediation: Sustainable Approach for Heavy Metal Pollution," Scientifica, vol. 2024, no. 1, p. 3909400, 2024.
S. H. Bokhari et al., "Phytoremediation Potential of Lemna Minor L. for Heavy Metals," International Journal of Phytoremediation, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 25-32, 2016.
M. A. Khan et al., "Differential Bioaccumulation of Select Heavy Metals from Wastewater by Lemna Minor," Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol. 105, pp. 777-783, 2020.
L. He et al., "Transport and Transformation of Atmospheric Metals in Ecosystems: A Review," Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, vol. 9, p. 100218, 2023.
A. Al-Saadi and A. Al-Mayah, Aquatic Plant in Iraq, Arab Gulf Studies Center, University of Basrah, Iraq, 1983.
M. Sakizadeh and R. Mirzaei, "Health Risk Assessment of Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr in Drinking Water in Some Wells and Springs of Shush and Andimeshk, Khuzestan Province, Southern Iran," Iranian Journal of Toxicology, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 29-35, 2016.
R. Baird, E. Rice, and A. Eaton, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewaters, 23rd ed., Water Environment Federation, 2017.
M. E. Argun et al., "Heavy Metal Adsorption by Modified Oak Sawdust: Thermodynamics and Kinetics," Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 141, no. 1, pp. 77-85, 2007.
C. Branquinho, H. C. Serrano, M. J. Pinto, and M. A. Martins-Loução, "Revisiting the Plant Hyperaccumulation Criteria to Rare Plants and Earth Abundant Elements," Environmental Pollution, vol. 146, no. 2, pp. 437-443, 2007.
X. Lu et al., "Removal of Cadmium and Zinc by Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia Crassipes," Science Asia, vol. 30, pp. 103-107, 2004.
D. Bianconi et al., "Uptake of Cadmium by Lemna Minor, a (Hyper?-) Accumulator Plant Involved in Phytoremediation Applications," E3S Web of Conferences, vol. 1, pp. 13002-1-4, 2013.
N. R. Axtell, S. P. K. Sternberg, and K. Claussen, "Lead and Nickel Removal Using Microspora and Lemna Minor," Bioresource Technology, vol. 89, no. 1, pp. 41-48, 2003.
S. K. L. Al-Zurfi, A. Y. Alisaw, and G. A. A. Al-Shafai, "Anatomical and Physiological Effects of Cadmium in Aquatic Plant Hydrilla Verticillata," Environmental Science Reports, vol. 45, pp. 839-846, 2018.
S. K. L. Al-Zurfi, H. H. M. Al-Tabatabai, and A. A. Abojassim, "Cadmium Metal Effects on Physiological and Anatomical Variations for Aquatic Plant Hydrilla Verticillata (L. f.) Royle," Plant Physiology Reports, vol. 26, pp. 457-465, 2021.
M. Ali et al., "Phytoremediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Water by Lemna Minor," Fayoum Journal of Agricultural Research and Development, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 224-239, 2024.
M. Tkalec et al., "Cadmium-Induced Responses in Duckweed Lemna Minor L.," Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, vol. 30, pp. 881-890, 2008.
J. M. Al-Khayri et al., "Cadmium Toxicity in Medicinal Plants: An Overview of the Tolerance Strategies, Biotechnological and Omics Approaches to Alleviate Metal Stress," Frontiers in Plant Science, vol. 13, p. 1047410, 2023.
N. Khellaf and M. Zerdaoui, "Growth Response of the Duckweed Lemna Gibba L. to Copper and Nickel Phytoaccumulation," Ecotoxicology, vol. 19, pp. 1363-1371, 2010.
M. S. A. Ahmad and M. Ashraf, "Essential Roles and Hazardous Effects of Nickel in Plants," Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol. 213, pp. 125-167, 2011.
Z. Leblebici and A. Aksoy, "Growth and Lead Accumulation Capacity of Lemna Minor and Spirodela Polyrhiza (Lemnaceae): Interactions with Nutrient Enrichment," Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, vol. 214, pp. 175-183, 2011.
N. Pandey and C. P. Sharma, "Effect of Heavy Metals Co2+, Ni2+ and Cd2+ on Growth and Metabolism of Cabbage," Plant Science, vol. 163, no. 4, pp. 753-758, 2002.
M. Peana et al., "Biological Effects of Human Exposure to Environmental Cadmium," Biomolecules, vol. 13, no. 1, p. 36, 2022.
H. Guo et al., "Nickel Carcinogenesis Mechanism: DNA Damage," International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 20, no. 19, p. 4690, 2019.
M. S. Collin et al., "Bioaccumulation of Lead (Pb) and Its Effects on Human: A Review," Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, vol. 7, p. 100094, 2022.
