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Hydrophytes for removing heavy metals

1. Introduction float and the blooms are pollinated by the wind. On the
rhizomes, starch-rich tubers are generated. Vegetative
Pesticides, herbicides, organic and inorganic fertilizers, reproduction uses tubers and plant pieces, while sexual
and other harmful substances find their way into the reproduction uses seeds. Fruit lengths range from 3 to
aquatic environment via anthropogenic, agricultural, 5 mm. Various kinds of water birds would consume the
industrial, and human activities taking place in the plant in its entirety. 15,16 Additionally, the P. pectinatus
biosphere. Ninety-five substances, including heavy is excellent at bioremoving toxins and exogenous
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metals introduced into the aquatic environment, have compounds from contaminated wastewater. It also
been classified as harmful. 2 shows potential for the removal of heavy metals from
It is known that many plant species can flourish in polluted wastewater, such as Fe, Mn, cadmium (Cd),
metal-rich settings, with some capable of accumulating selenium (Se), Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Cu, by capturing
extremely high concentrations of poisonous metals in sizable quantities of these elements. 2,17
their tissues—concentrations that are critical to their A monocotyledon submerged perennial, rootless,
development and growth. Among these common metals free-floating aquatic macrophyte, Ceratophyllum
are lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), demerssum L. is a member of the Ceratophyllaceae
nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), family. Four species (and a few subspecies) of aquatic
cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn). On the other hand, plants that are found worldwide in freshwater settings
3-5
some plants may become hazardous when these heavy make up the genus Ceratophyllum. The base of
metals accumulate excessively. Biodegradation is one C. demersum’s stem is often buried in silty or sandy
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of the many techniques that is both ecologically and soils as it develops. Usually, it is observed floating
economically favorable. To cast off metals, pesticides, in slow-moving, stagnant water. It is a delicate, free-
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petroleum compounds, explosives, polyaromatic floating, rootless, yet heavily leafy, annual or perennial
hydrocarbons, and specific herbal pollutants, freshwater fragrant plant that reproduces vegetatively
phytoremediation has been carried out extensively. The and by seed. Its leaves are so closely spaced at the tips
method has been found to successfully remove the above that they resemble a bushy animal tail. This plant has
elements and is known to be maintenance-friendly. 10,11 feathery leaflets that are separated into many small
To cast off metals, pesticides, petroleum compounds, segments and are arranged in whorls on the stem,
explosives, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and specific resembling the tail of a raccoon. Additionally, the
herbal pollutants, phytoremediation has been carried midribs of the leaves have several microscopic teeth
out extensively. It may be applied for fee successfully that, when dragged through the fingers, give the plant
and is pretty easy to maintain. 10,11 Phytoremediation a rough texture. The little flowers are situated near the
is possibly supported through manner of way of the leaf base. The blossoms appear every year, although
public, and monitoring the plant life to make certain rarely seen. C. demerssum L. lives in fresh and brackish
they will be doing their intended duties is an easy task. shallow water that is rich in nutrients. Under these
Physico-chemical or specific natural techniques are not circumstances, it may quickly absorb and deposit heavy
as green, passive, solar energy-driven, sustainable, or metals in its tissues. This plant has been utilized for
luxurious as phytoremediation has proven to be in terms phytoremediation because it may be used to monitor
of environmental cleaning. 12,13 Potamogeton pectinatus heavy metal contamination since it collects residues of
(syn. Stuckenia pectinata) is a monocotyledon plant of Pb and Cd. Because it floats freely, it needs to absorb a
the Potamogetonaceae family, commonly called sago lot of nutrients from the water, capturing high levels of
pondweed or fennel pondweed, also known as ribbon nitrogen from its natural habitat. Additionally, it affects
weed, is a cosmopolitan water plant species that grows cyanobacteria and phytoplankton allelopathically. 12,18
in fresh and brackish water on all continents except The traditional remedy techniques for extracting
Antarctica. It is an aquatic plant that is completely biologically polluted heavy metals or effluents
submerged, with no leaves floating or emerging. 14 of wastewater include ion exchange, discount of
The long, narrow, linear leaves of P. pectinatus are contaminants, and chemical precipitation, membrane
made up of two thin, parallel tubes and are <2 mm filtration, nanotechnological remedy, electrochemical
broad. The primary distinction from other pondweeds elimination, and superior oxidation. Additionally, there
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with thin leaves is that the stipule is attached to the leaf are numerous organic approaches that use useless or
base; when the leaf is plucked, the sheath and stipule alive, unfastened or immobilized cells of algae or plant
separate, like the sheath and ligule of grass. The seeds tissues, as cells have carbohydrates and polypeptides of

Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 65 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025150105