Page 79 - AJWEP-22-4

Hydrophytes for removing heavy metals

Table 5. Heavy metal removal efficiency of Ceratophyllum demerssum at different exposure times
Exposure time Cd Pb Zn Mn
6 27.0±1.56 a 25.0±1.44 a 51.0±2.94 a 38.0±2.19 a
12 43.0±2.48 b 42.0±2.42 b 53.0±3.06 ab 55.0±3.18 b
18 61.0±3.52 c 47.0±2.71 bc 64.0±3.70 bc 64.0±3.70 bc
24 65.0±3.75 c 50.0±2.89 bc 70.0±4.04 c 70.0±4.04 cd
30 69.0±3.98 c 52.0±3.00 c 72.0±4.16 c 81.0±4.68 de
36 72.0±4.16 c 54.0±3.12 c 73.0±4.21 c 83.0±4.79 e
F-value 27.1 16.078 6.802 19.192
Notes: Data are expressed as an average of at least three separate experiments. The statistical significance of the results was assessed by
Duncan’s multiple range test (p=0.05). The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level. a,b,c,d,e Letters are used to indicate statistically
significant differences between group means. Groups sharing the same letter are not significantly different from each other, while groups
with different letters are significantly different.

Table 6. Heavy metal removal efficiency of Potamogeton pectinatus at different exposure times
Exposure time Cd Pb Zn Mn
6 30.0±1.7 a 37.0±2.14 a 52.0±3.00 a 50.0±2.89 a
12 54.0±3.12 b 49.0±2.83 b 55.0±3.18 a 58.0±3.35 ab
18 69.0±3.98 c 65.0±3.75 c 65.0±3.75 a 65.0±3.75 b
24 72.0±4.16 c 67.0±3.87 cd 80.0±4.62 b 80.0±4.62 c
30 81.0±4.68 cd 69.0±3.98 cd 89.0±5.14 bc 89.0±5.14 c
36 85.0±4.91 d 77.0±4.45 d 94.0±5.43 c 92.0±5.31 c
F-value 27.011 16.953 17.108 16.222
Notes: Data are expressed as an average of at least three separate experiments. The statistical significance of the results was assessed by
Duncan’s multiple range test (p=0.05). The mean difference is significant at the 0.05 level. a,b,c,d Letters are used to indicate statistically
significant differences between group means. Groups sharing the same letter are not significantly different from each other, while groups
with different letters are significantly different.

Due to the P. pectineus’s ability to extract and absorb showed the advantages of employing a few free-floating
heavy metals from water, it may be utilized as a valuable plants: E. crassepis, Lemna minor, and P. stratiotes for
bioremediation agent to rid the water of heavy metals the filtration and remediation of industrial wastewater.
and restore its suitability for irrigating woody tree Rezania et al., pointed out that phytoremediation
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forests and gardens. The proficiency of P. pectinatus is an inexpensive, ecologically friendly approach
to absorb and retain heavy metals in its tissues has that reduces heavy metal levels in wastewater more
been confirmed in previous studies. 12,34 Furthermore, effectively than emerging and submerged plants.
it has the potential to extract and retain nutrients from Bioremediation is defined as a treatment that uses
wastewater. 35,36 C. demerssum could extract heavy naturally occurring organisms to break down hazardous
metals from water, which may subsequently be used as substances into less toxic or nontoxic substances. This
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an irrigation tool for woody tree forests, gardens, and treatment method covers bioaccumulation, biosorption,
recently reclaimed land. 17 and phytoremediation. Phytoremediation, as defined by
The possibility of macrophytes as inexpensive Sharma et al., is the direct and natural use of green
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agents for eliminating heavy metals from textile effluent plants to take up and absorb poisons through their roots
has been examined previously. 37,38 They found that and move them to the upper part of the plant. Studies
floating macrophytes may be used in textile effluent by Bhatia and Goyal, Bauddh et al., and Nafea and
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phytoremediation and were highly effective in removing Šera showed that it is feasible to remove inorganic and/
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heavy metals from contaminated water. Examples or organic contaminants (metals, pesticides, persistent
of these species are Salvinia molesta, Eichhornia organic pollutants) from contaminated soil, sludge,
crassepis, and Pistia stratiotes. Ugya et al. also sediments, and water.
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Volume 22 Issue 4 (2025) 71 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025150105