The Influence of Heavy Metals on Growth and Development of Eichhornia crassipes Species, Cultivated in Contaminated Water

Abstract

Many plants are capable of accumulating heavy metals (called hyperacumulators), one of which is the water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes Mart. The roots of this water plant naturally absorb pollutants, including heavy metals such as Pb, Hg, Zn, Co, Cd, and Cu and can be used for wastewater treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of heavy metals on growth and development of water hyacinth and to determinate the uptake capacity of heavy metals of this species. It was evaluated for its effectiveness in reducing pollution potential in wastewater. From the combination of experimental factors 11 variants resulted. The results showed that Eichhornia absorbed a high quantity of Pb (504 mg/kg dry matter) and Cu (561 mg/kg dry matter) in their roots. More Cu accumulated in the root compared to Pb. The level of Zn absorption was lower in roots (84 mg/kg dry matter) and also in stem plus leaves (51 mg/kg dry matter). A high quantity of Cd (281 mg/kg dry matter) was removed from stem plus leaves of Eichhornia while the level of Co was very low (45 mg/kg dry matter). Regarding the growth and development of this plant it was found that in tanks with Pb plants had a better development and had flowers also, and in the case of Cd, Co, Cu at a double dose of maximum admissible limits, the plants died and the growing period was shorter.

Removal of Metal Nanoparticles Colloidal Solutions by Water Plants

“…There is also an evidence that increasing concentrations of metals above the threshold may result in damage to plants used for phytoremediation, which led to necrotic changes; chlorosis; damage of chloroplasts, stomata cells, and trichomes; and reducing biomass, content of chlorophyll, protein, free amino acids, RNA, and DNA which should be considered when creating water treatment facilities. That is why establishment of plant resistance to the specific metals and their threshold concentrations is receiving much attention nowadays [24–27]. …”

Study on characterization of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) novel natural fiber as reinforcement with epoxy polymer matrix material for lightweight applications

“…Normally this hyacinth plant stem is 2-3 m long with a spongy leaf and purple flowers. 12,13 Hyacinth fiber is extracted from the parent plant stem in this study using a novel mechanical extraction method. This method uses 0.5HP electric motors (bare motors), monoblock bearings, two alternative shafts, one permanent shaft with fully threaded mounting bolts, and flat rods in the length of 55 cm to construct the mechanical way of extraction machine.…”

Effect of heavy metals on stem anatomical characteristics of Trapa natans L. from Skadar Lake (Montenegro)

“…Different heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Mn) are very important for plants, as they are involved as constituents of enzymes and other proteins in various metabolic processes. But in case that their concentration is above specific critical value, they can become very toxic, as they can cause various interactions at molecular and cellular level (Baldisserotto et al 2007;Pandey et al 2009;Buta et al 2011).…”