Copper uptake by Eichhornia crassipes exposed at high level concentrations

MELIGNANI, E.; DE CABO, L.; FORTUNATO, MS; GALLEGO, A.; KOROL, S.; DE CABO, LAURA; FAGGI, ANA

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH

SPRINGER HEIDELBERG

Lugar: HEIDELBERG; Año: 2014 vol. 22 p. 8307 - 8315

0944-1344

The objective of this study was to assess the growthof water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and its ability toaccumulate Cu from polluted water with high Cu concentrationsand a mixture of other contaminants under short-termexposure, in order to use this species for the remediation ofhighly contaminated sites. Two hydroponic experiments wereperformed under greenhouse conditions for 7 days. One ofthem consisted of growing water hyacinth in Hoagland solutionsupplemented with 15 or 25 mg Cu/L and a control. Theother one contained water hyacinth growing in polluted riverwater supplemented with 15 mg Cu/L and a control. Cu wasaccumulated principally in roots. The maximum Cu concentrationwas 23,387.2 mg/kg dw in the treatment of 25 mg Cu/Lin Hoagland solution. Cu translocation from roots to leaveswas low. The mixture of 15 mg Cu/L with polluted water didnot appear to have toxic effects on the water hyacinth. Thisplant showed a remarkable uptake capacity under elevated Cuconcentrations in a mixture of pollutants similar to pure industrialeffluents in a short time of exposure. This result hasnot been reported before, to our knowledge. This species issuitable for phytoremediation of waters subject to discharge ofmixed industrial effluents containing elevated Cu concentrations(≥15 mg Cu/L), as well as nutrient-rich domesticwastewaters.