PHYTOREMEDIATION OF ARSENIC WATERS USING Salvinia minima AS BIOACCUMULATOR

PESTCHANKER, M.; MARCHEVSKY, E; ANTON, R.

San Luis

Congreso; SOCIEDAD DE BIOLOGIA DE CUYO; 2015

SOCIEDAD BIOLOGIA DE CUYO

Phytoremediation is based on the use of plants to clean polluted environments and although it is in development, it constitutes an interesting strategy, due to the ability of some plant species to absorb, accumulate and tolerate high concentrations of contaminants. The problem of high concentrations of arsenic in freshwater is an issue of worldwide distribution. San Luis, Argentina is not exempt since the superficial and underground waters in the south of the province have high concentrations of this metal. There have been studies that show evidence of arsenic bioaccumulation using an aquatic plant species. The species used is Salvinia minima which is an aquatic fern that stays floating over the water and grows at high speed. Experiences were performed in hydroponic systems, using Hoagland hydroponic solution, exposing plants to different concentrations of As. Samples of leaves and roots were extracted at different periods of timeand the total As concentration was measured in different parts of the fern. The bioaccumulation factor was calculated. After 28 days of exposure to concentrations of 5, 10 and 15 ppm of arsenic, found that leaves accumulated higher concentrations ofarsenic. The average absorbed by the roots does not depend on the dose, and they are always lower than averages absorbed and accumulated in leaves, where there is correlation between contact time and absorbed concentration. The calculated bioaccumulation factors show that Salvinia minima is a concentrator of arsenic and the results are promising as to achieve an effective treatment of arsenical waters.