Metal Uptake (Cr, Cd, And Zn) By Typha Latifolia Under Different pH Conditions

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Date of Award

5-22-2024

Abstract

The goal of this study was to study the ability of the wetland macrophyte Typha latifolia (Cattails) to treat artificial wastewater with varying pH (5, 7, and 9) and different levels of heavy metals include chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn). Cattails were cultured in solutions for 4 weeks and then harvested. Then cattails were sorted to roots, rhizomes, & stems, oven dried, and acid digested. The amounts of metals in various tissues were assessed using a chemistry technique, to analyze the metals, called (ICP-OES) Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer. It was found that cattails were able to survive in all treatment solutions. Increased metal concentrations in wastewater lead to higher metal uptake by plant. Most metals were accumulated in the roots of cattails. Among the three heavy metals, the levels of Zn were the highest in solutions and in plants as expected. All metals have translocation factor value less than one. Although plants cultured in lower pH sequestered more metals in general, pH variations had very minimal influence is seen on the uptake of these heavy metals by pH. The highest accumulation occurred in acidic pH, with cattail roots sequestering the most Cd, Cr, and Zn at pH 5. For example, cattail roots cultivated in pH 5 solutions with high amounts of metals sequestered 248.8 mg/g Zn, the highest amount in the overall data. The same pattern was observed with chromium and cadmium. The study indicated that cattails were good candidates for phytostabilization and may be used to remediate heavy metals contaminated field, though site characterizations were required. In future, deeper research in chelator’s applications, genetic engineering, or plant microbiomes may help to enhance cattails' ability to absorb heavy metals and assist phytoremediation to clean heavy metals contaminated environments.

Advisor

LIN GUO

Subject Categories

Environmental Sciences | Physical Sciences and Mathematics

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