IJEP 45(5): 428-436 : Vol. 45 Issue. 5 (May 2025)
1. Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Bhubaneswar – 751 030, Odisha, India
2. CSIR- Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Department of Environment and Sustainability, Bhubaneswar – 751 013, Odisha, India
Abstract
The phytoremediation potential of Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass) was investigated by using synthetic solutions of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] with different concentrations through pot aquaculture. To assess the impact of different parameters on remedial efficiency, initial chromium concentration and density of biomass at different pH were evaluated. The initial concentration of excess 50 ppm clearly shows the toxicity of Cr(VI) on the plant as it dries-up the shoot biomass. A higher density of biomass (12 lemon slips) showed faster removal efficiency irrespective of initial concentration. However, faster removal was attained at 10 ppm solution, that is 90% removal in 47 days in comparison to 48% at 30 ppm in 49 days. The favourable condition for Cr(VI) remediation was observed at pH 3 with 99% removal within 28 days upto 50 ppm. The pattern of distribution of Cr(VI) was investigated, where most of the chromium was accumulated in the roots at lower initial concentrations. However, with increased concentration, the roots attain saturation and promote chromium accumulation in shoot biomass. This experiment indicates that lemongrass will be an excellent plant for phytoreduction, phytoextraction and especially phytostabilisation of different heavy metals in contaminated water, soil or mine-dumped/degraded lands.
Keywords
Phytoremediation, Toxicity of Cr(VI), Plant uptake, Metal accumulation, Plant density, Phytostabilisation
References
- Ali, H., E. Khan and I. Ilahi. 2019. Environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology of hazardous heavy metals: Environmental persistence, toxicity and bioaccumulation. J. Chem., 1-14. DOI: 10.1155/2019/6730305.
- Masindi, V. and K. L. Muedi. 2018. Environmental contamination by heavy metals. In Heavy metals. Ed Hosam El-Din M. Saleh and Refaat F. Aglan. InTech. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.76082.
- Defarge, N., S. Vendomois and G.E. Seralini. 2018. Toxicity of formulants and heavy metals in glyphosate-based herbicides and other pesticides. Toxicol. Rep., 5: 156–163. DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep. 2017.12.025.
- Gautam, R.K., et al. 2015. Contamination of heavy metals in aquatic media: Transport, toxicity and technologies for remediation (chapter 1). In Heavy metals in water: Presence, removal and safety. Ed N. Sharma. The Royal Society of Chemistry.
- Tchounwou, P.B., et al. 2012. Heavy metal toxicity and the environment. Molecular Clinical Env. Toxicol. Exp. Suppl., 101: 133–164. DOI: 1 0.1007/ 978-3- 7643-8340-4-6.
- Saha, P., O. Shinde and S. Sarkar. 2017. Phytoreme-diation of industrial mines wastewater using water hyacinth. Int. J. Phytoremediation. 19 (1): 87–96. DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2016.1216078.
- Dhal, B., et al. 2013. Chemical and microbial remediation of hexavalent chromium from contaminated soil and mining/ metallurgical solid waste: A review. J. Hazard. Mater., 250–251: 272–291. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.01.048.
- IARC. 1987. Overall evaluations of carcinogenicity: an updating of IARC monographs (vol 1-42). International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, Geneva.
- Gomes, M.A., et al. 2017. Plant chromium uptake and transport, physiological effects and recent advances in molecular investigations. Ecotoxicol. Env. Saf., 140: 55–64. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv. 2017. 01.042.
- Teklay, A. 2016. Physiological effect of chromium exposure: A review. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutrition Dietetics. S7(001): 1-11. DOI: 10.19070/2326-33 50-si07001.
- WHO. 2011. Guidelines for drinking-water quality (4th edn). World Health Organization, Geneva.
- Li, C., et al. 2019. A review on heavy metals contamination in soil: Effects, sources and remediation techniques. Soil Sediment Contam. Int. J., 28 (4): 380–394.
- US EPA. 1996. Method 3050B: Acid digestion of sediments, sludges and soils (rev. 2). United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
- APHA. 2017. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. American Public Health Association.
- Yoon, J., et al. 2006. Accumulation of Pb, Cu and Zn in native plants growing on a contaminated Florida site. Sci. Total Env., 368 (2–3): 456–464. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.01.016.
- Suelee, A.L., et al. 2017. Phytoremediation potential of Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) for treatment of metal-contaminated water. Water Air Soil Poll., 228 (4): 158. DOI: 10.1007/s11270-017-3349-x.
- Hayat, S., et al. 2012. Physiological changes induced by chromium stress in plants: an overview. Protoplasma. 249 (3): 599–611. DOI: 10.1007/s00709-011-0331-0.
- Lorestani, B., et al. 2013. Phytoextraction and phytostabilization potential of plants grown in the vicinity of heavy metal contaminated soils: a case study at an industrial town site. Env. Monit. Assess., 185 (12): 10217–10223. DOI: 10.1007/s10 661-013-3326-9.
- Darajeh, N., et al. 2014. Phytoremediation potential of vetiver system technology for improving the quality of palm oil mill effluent. Adv. Mater. Sci. Eng., DOI :10.1155/2014/683579.
- Ertani, A., et al. 2017. Chromium in agricultural soils and crops: A review. Water Air Soil Poll., 228: 190. DOI: 10.1007/s11270-017-3356-y.
- Singh, V., L. Thakur and P. Mondal. 2015. Removal of lead and chromium from synthetic wastewater using Vetiveria zizanioides. Clean Soil Air Water. 43(4): 538–543. DOI: 10.1002/clen.v43.410. 100 2/clen.201300578.
- Kumar, M., et al. 2013. Removal of chromium from water effluent by adsorption onto Vetiveria zizanioides and Anabaena species. Nat. Sci., 5 (3): 341–348. DOI: 10. 4236/ns.2013.53047.
- Fomina, M. and G.M. Gadd. 2014. Biosorption: current perspectives on concept, definition and application. Bioresour. Tech., 160: 3–14. DOI: 10.1016/ j. biortech.2013.12.102.
- Mohanty, M. 2015. Phytoremediation – An innovative approach for attenuation of chromium toxicity and rice cultivation in mining areas. J. Rice Res., 3: e116. doi: 10.4172/2375-4338.1000e116.
- Gerhardt, K. E., P. D. Gerwing and B. M. Greenberg. 2017. Opinion: Taking phytoremediation from proven technology to accepted practice. Plant Sci.,
256: 170–185. DOI:10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.11. 016. - Burges, A., et al. 2018. From phytoremediation of soil contaminants to phytomanagement of ecosystem services in metal contaminated sites. Int. J. Phytoremediat., 20: 384–397. DOI: 10.1080/1522 6514.2017.1365340.
- Ali, H., E. Khan and M. A. Sajad. 2013. Phytore-mediation of heavy metals- Concepts and applications. Chemosphere. 91: 869–881. DOI: 10.1016 /j.chemosphere.2013.01.075.
- Javed, M. T., et al. 2019. Phytoremediation of cadmium-polluted water/sediment by aquatic macrophytes: Role of plant-induced pH changes (chapter 20). In Cadmium toxicity and tolerance in plants. ed M. Hasanuzzaman, M. N. V. Prasad and M. Fujita. Academic Press, London. pp 495–529. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-814864-8.00020-6.
- Oshunsanya, S.O. and O. Aliku. 2017. Vetiver grass: A tool for sustainable agriculture. In Grasses- Benefits, diversities and functional roles. Ed A. Almusaed and S.M.S. Al-Samaraee. InTech.