Remediation of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) using water hyacinth [Eichornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms] with electro-assisted phytoremediation (EAPR)

Abstract

The research aimed to evaluate of lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) absorption using water hyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms] with the enhancement by the EAPR (electro-assisted phytoremediation) method. Lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) was used in this research as a heavy metal model which was remediated for 7 d of wastewater treatment. The application of designed pot-cathode in 2D of electrode configuration was also evaluated for EAPR process. Heavy metal concentration of the plant tissues was measured by flame-AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry). Plant stress was evaluated through chlorophyll concentration. The results showed that the absorption of Pb by water hyacinth on the basis of EAPR process was much lower than that in the phytoremediation due to high precipitation of lead metal in the aquatic plume during the electromigration process. While on the similar process, the absorption of Cu was very high in the plant root. The plants grown under the EAPR system did not show any significantly low of chlorophyll concentration, suggesting higher tolerance of the plant to the heavy metal concentration. Therefore, the plants, even though under stress condition, were still able to maintain a relatively normal level of photosynthetic pigments.