The ability of Ceratophyllum demersum L. to remediate polluted water with chromium, cadmium, and cobalt

Abstract EN

The aquatic plant is an essential biofilter to remove different pollutants from the watershed.

this study focuses on the ability of ceratophyllum demersum L.

to remediate cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and cobalt (Co) from aqueous solution and also examines some toxicological effects of metals on this plant species.

ceratophyllum demersum L.

was exposed to 3 mg / L of selected metals in single and combination experiments, and a plant without metals was set as a control.

the experiments were done in a laboratory for ten days.

the parameters were measured at the beginning and end of the experiments.

it included metals in the plant, bioconcentration factor (BCF), fresh and dry weight, relative growth rate (RGR), total chlorophyll, protein, and proline content, and tolerance index rate.

the metal residual in the water and the removal efficiency were measured at the end of the experiments.

the results revealed that the removal efficiency of metals in single metal experiments was higher than in combined metal experiments.

it was Co > Cr > Cd.

the results also improved that the reduction of fresh and dry weight, relative growth rate, total chlorophyll, and protein content was highest in combinations of three metals ; it was 2.23 g, 0.309 g, 0.218, 2.714 µg / g, and 18.32% , respectively.

the proline content was increased as a response to heavy metals.

in combinations of three metal experiments, it was 355.76 mg / g.

the conclusion indicates that ceratophyllum demersum was a good candidate to remediate polluted water with a low concentration of heavy metals.