Phytoremediation Potential of Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) for Treatment of Metal-Contaminated Water

Abstract

Phytoremediation using vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) has been regarded as an effective technique for removing contaminants in polluted water. This study was conducted to assess the removal efficiency of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) using vetiver grass (VG) at different root lengths and densities and to determine metals uptake rate by plant parts (root and shoot) between treatments (low and high concentration). Removal efficiency for heavy metals in water by VG is ranked in the order of Fe>Pb>Cu>Mn>Zn. Results showed that VG was effective in removing all the heavy metals, but removals greatly depend on root length, plant density and metal concentration. Longer root length and higher density showed greater removals of heavy metals due to increased surface area for metal absorption by plant roots. Results also demonstrated significant difference of heavy metals uptake in plant parts at different concentrations indicating that root has high tolerance towards elevated concentration of heavy metals. However, the effects were less significant in plant shoot suggesting that metals uptake were generally higher in root than in shoot. The findings have shown potential of VG in phytoremediation for heavy metals removal in water thus providing significant implication for treatment of metal-contaminated water.

Study on the Application of Floating Beds of Macrophites (Vetiveria zizanioides and Phragmites australis) in Pilot Scale for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Água Forte Stream (Alentejo-Portugal)

“…biomass. These results agree with the literature, which states that Fe and Zn show a higher assimilation capacity in both plants, compared to the other metals analyzed (Wang & Jia, 2009;Srivastava et al, 2014;Suelee et al, 2017). It was also found that the accumulation preferably occurred at the roots.…”

“…The results obtained were lower than those reported in the literature, although the experimental conditions are not coincident with the present study. Suelee et al, (2017), reports that at high concentrations of metals in synthetic medium after 10 days, Vetiveria zizanioides had a Fe accumulation of 19197 mg•kg -1 DW in the root and 1549 mg•kg -1 DW in the leaf. Likewise, the content of Cu, Mn and Zn in the root was 1110 mg kg -1 , 826 mg•kg -1 and 705 mg•kg -1 DW, respectively, and in the 458 mg•kg -1 DW sheet, 409 mg•kg -1 DW and 278 mg•kg -1 DW, respectively.…”

Phytoremediation of Lead-Contaminated Soil by Using Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanioides L.)

“…We assumed that it shows the ability of vetiver grass to reach its maximum level to remediate the heavy metal. This result was similar to the results of the previous study whereby the end of four days, most of the heavy metals had already been taken by plants [20]. Another research result showed heavy metals in soil, even at the level above critical value to plant growth, had no negative effect on vetiver growth [21,22].…”

Phytoremediating Batik Wastewater Using Vetiver Chrysopogon zizanioides (L)

“…It is able to grow in difficult conditions, and it has unique morphological and physiological characteristics, as well as a very high tolerance to heavy metals and adverse conditions [29], and high tolerance toward extreme climatic conditions such as drought, extreme temperatures, and acid and alkaline pH. Factors that control plant uptake were the age of plants, seasonal variations, and climatic conditions [30]. Chrysopogon zizanioides L. can accumulate heavy metals in roots, making it suitable for phytostabilization and phytoextraction with the addition of chelating agents [31].…”

“…Chrysopogon zizanioides L. can accumulate Cr in large quantities. The Cr toxicity threshold for Chrysopogon zizanioides L. ranged from 5-18 mg/kg [30]. Concentrations of Cr in roots ranged 18.28-33.52 mg/kg, and in leaves ranged 0.86-1.27 mg/kg ( Table 6).…”