Bio-concentration of chromium—an in situ phytoremediation study at South Kaliapani chromite mining area of Orissa, India

Abstract

Mine waste water at South Kaliapani usually contains toxic levels of hexavalent Cr(VI). The present in situ study was conducted at South Kaliapani chromite mine area in Orissa state, India, to assess the phytoremediation ability of three plants, namely, rice (Oryza sativa L.), paragrass (Brachiaria mutica), and an aquatic weed (Eichhornia crassipes), in attenuating Cr(VI) from mine waste water and to correlate the bio-concentration factors (BCF) of Cr. Water hyacinth (E. crassipes) showed 24% to 54% reduction whereas paragrass (B. mutica) was able to reduce 18% to 33% of Cr(VI) from mine water. This reduction was studied over a period of 100 days of plant growth. The reduction was observed through a passage of a sum total of 2,000 sq. ft. cultivated plots and ponds separately. Reduction in Cr(VI) content in mine water varies with plant age as well as with the distance of passage. Cr accumulation and BCF values increased with high soil Cr levels as well as the age of plants. High BCF and transportation index (Ti) values, i.e., 10,924 and 32.09, respectively, were noted for water hyacinth. The Ti values indicated that the root-to-shoot translocation of Cr was very high after 100 days of growth. The total accumulation rate was maximum (8.29 mg Cr kg dry biomass(-1) day (-1)) in paragrass. The BCF values for roots were noted to be higher than those of leaves, stems, and grains of the 125-day-old plants. Hence, paragrass and water hyacinth may be used as tools of phytoremediation to combat the problem of in situ Cr contamination.

Biotechnological advances in bioremediation of heavy metals contaminated ecosystems: an overview with special reference to phytoremediation

“…Heavy metals can accumulate in plant tissue to a level that affects its growth and development, as these metals interfere with metabolic functions in plants, including physiological and biochemical processes, inhibition of photosynthesis and respiration, degeneration of main cell organelles, which includes stunted growth, chlorosis, reduced crop yield, delayed germination, senescence, premature leaf fall, biochemical lesions, loss of enzyme activities, even leading to death of plants (Liu et al 2008;Mohanty et al 2012). …”

“…Now, the existing cover soil at many sites is sufficient to support an adequate root system for healthy tree growth, which is evidenced by vigorous growth of trees at abandoned landfills (MoEF 2011). Further, Mohanty et al (2012) assessed the phytoremediation ability of Eichhornia crassipes and Brachiaria mutica to combat the problem of in situ Cr contamination at South Kaliapani chromite mine area in Orissa, India, and finally achieved 24-54 % and 18-33 % reduction of Cr VI from mine water, respectively, by the aforesaid plant. Loktak Lake (a Ramsar site, the wetland of international importance as per Ramsar Convention) in Manipur, having characteristic Phumdis (floating islands), is serving as receptacle for sewage and agro-chemicals.…”

Phytoremediation - An Innovative Approach for Attenuation of Chromium Toxicity and Rice Cultivation in Mining Areas

“…So it is an excellent phytoremediation tool for reclamation of contaminated soil. The Cr accumulation in paragrass can be verified from the BCF, TAR and Ti values [7]. The extensive and massive fibrous root systems of paragrass are the helpful means for filtering out the pollutants through rhizofiltration mechanism at the mining sites.…”

“…Ti was highest in water hyacinth plants. All of the plants showed a general trend of fall in Ti with an increase in chromium concentration and days of exposure to Cr [7]. The BCF of Cr increased with an increase Mohanty, J Rice Res 2015, 3:3 …”

“…Researchers attempted to detoxify and reduce the Cr6+ contamination level from discharged mine waste water by the use of different plants [6] through phytoremediation technique. In one of such in situ phytoremediation approach by Mohanty et al [7], paragrass and water hyacinth can be used as tools of rhizofiltration and phytoextraction to combat the problem of in situ Cr contamination at South Kaliapani Chromite mine area of Odisha, India. The study provides the idea of biomassbased phytoextraction using high-biomass-producing paragrass species growing luxuriantly under field conditions with high root accumulation capacity.…”