Typha domingensis ability to accumulate and tolerate high concentrations of Cr, Ni, Zn and P.

MUFARREGE, M.M.; DI LUCA, G.A.; HADAD, H.R.; MAINE, M.A.

Perth

Conferencia; 13th International Conference Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control. IWA- Murdoch University.; 2012

IWA- Murdoch University.

The tolerance and removal efficiency of Typha domingensis exposed to high concentrations of metals and phosphorus in separated and combined solutions were studied. Sediment and two plants were arranged in each reactor. The treatments were: 100 mg L-1 and 500 mg L-1 Cr or Ni or Zn or P (Cr100, Cr500, Ni100, Ni500, Zn100, Zn500, P100, P500), 500 mg L-1 Cr+500 mg L-1 Ni+500 mg L-1 Zn (Comb500), and a control. At the end of the experiment, even though the sediment showed lower metal and P concentrations than the plant tissues, mass balances showed that this compartment was the main contaminant accumulator. The relative growth rates were positive for P, Cr and Zn treatments, while Ni treatments showed negative values. P100 treatment showed a significantly higher chlorophyll concentration increase than that obtained in the other treatments, showing no significant differences regarding the control. Ni and combined treatments showed a diminution in this parameter. Since the studied contaminant concentrations are extremely higher than the concentrations found in natural and constructed wetlands for the treatment of industrial effluents, our results demonstrate the ability of T. domingensis to survive a fortuitous dump of high concentrations of contaminants in an aquatic system.