Removal of Cr(VI) and phenol using water hyacinth from single and binary solution in the artificial photosynthesis chamber

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2015.05.008Get rights and content

Abstract

In this study, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was used for the uptake of two important pollutants Cr(VI) and phenol from single and binary solution. Artificial photosynthesis was carried out at 30 °C and 60% relative humidity. Experiments were carried out at four concentrations 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L of Cr(VI) and 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L of phenol in both single and binary mixtures of Cr(VI) and phenol, respectively. In a single component solution of Cr(VI) 99.00% removal was achieved at 5 mg/L in 16 days of operation while in case of single component solution of phenol 99.80% removal was achieved at 10 mg/L in 14 days. In a binary solution of Cr(VI) and phenol 99.00% removal of Cr(VI) was achieved at 5 mg/L of Cr(VI) and 10 mg/L of phenol in 7 days and 11 days of operation, respectively. It was observed that 99.00% removal of Cr(VI) was achieved in less time and also at higher concentration of Cr(VI) in the presence of phenol. The FTIR and EDX analysis was carried out to confirm the uptake of Cr(VI) and phenol. The uptake of Cr(VI) was found more in the presence of phenol which shows the synergistic effect for the removal of Cr(VI). It could be due to the fact that phenol was used as carbon or carbohydrate energy source by the plant at more stressed condition. In case of both single and binary solution, toxic effect was observed at 20 mg/L of Cr(VI).

Introduction

Various methodologies are used for the removal of heavy metals and organic compounds such as electrolysis [1], reverse osmosis [2], ion exchange [3], adsorption [4] simultaneous adsorption and bioaccumulation [5], oxidation-reduction [6] but out of this phytoremediation is eco friendly, cost effective and there is no generation of secondary waste [7]. Cr(VI) and phenol are two major pollutants discharged from various industries such as tanneries, electroplating, steel, paper, textile, paints extra [8]. Chromium is found in two stable oxidation states, i.e., Cr(III) and Cr(VI) out of which Cr(VI) is most carcinogenic and mutagenic to the living organism [9]. According to the guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit of Cr(VI) in ground water is 0.05 mg/L [10]. As per the guidelines recommended by the US environmental protection agency, phenol is hazardous pollutant and its permissible limit for the safe discharge is 0.005 mg/L [11]. Phenol may cause severe bad health effects on living beings such as weakening of the nervous system, heart disease, kidney and liver damage [12]. Cr(VI) and organic compounds such as Phenol, naphthalene, and trichloroethylene discharged from the effluent of various industries contaminates the groundwater aquifers, lake, river sediments and soil therefore there is a need for the removal of these pollutants at the discharged site [13]. Cr(VI) is combined with phenol to form the complex compound therefore removal of Cr(VI) was increased in the presence of phenol [14]. This could be due to the fact that the kinetic of Cr(VI) removal was improved by combining the reduction of Cr(VI) to other energy yielding reaction such as phenol degradation [15]. Water hyacinth was used for the removal of Cr(VI) and phenol because it can grow in polluted waste water under varying conditions of temperature from 10 to 40 °C [16]. The hairy roots of water hyacinth provide a large uptake of pollutant [17]. Water hyacinth can grow under high concentrations of toxic pollutant, varying nutrient conditions and pH (6–8) [18]. The roots of the water hyacinth can also be used as biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals [19]. Several species of aquatic macrophytes have been used for the removal of heavy metals such as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Duckweeds (Lemna sp.), water lettuce (Pistia sp.), water starwort (Callitrichecophocarpa Sendtn) aquatic weed (Salvinia Natans) and Cord grass (Spartina argentinensis) [20], [21], [22], [23]. Water hyacinth is a free floating macrophyte having large hairy roots and can grow easily in polluted waste water [24]. It can grows very fast, having high pollutant uptake capacity and constant relatively growth rate [25]. The tissue of stems and leaves are filled with air, which provides the floating capacity and ability to tolerate the worst atmospheric conditions. The hairy roots of the plant provide large contact area and can accumulate large amounts of toxic metals in different organs [26]. The largest uptake of heavy metals takes place in the root of the plant. The order of the uptake of heavy metals in different organs is as follows: roots > leaves > stem.

Among various aquatic macrophytes water hyacinth have high metal uptake capacity, tolerance to worst ecological condition and higher reproduction rate [27]. Water hyacinth has ability to double its size within 5 days [28]. Kunatsa et al. investigated that the growth rate of water hyacinth under favorable condition is 17.5 metric tons per hectare per day [29]. Different mechanism of uptake of heavy metals is suggested in the literature such as phytoextraction, phytovolatilization, phytostabilization and phytofiltration. In the phytoextraction, the heavy metals are absorbed by the root of the plant, translocate to the stem and get accumulated there. In the phytovolatilization, heavy metals consumed by the plants release into the environment through volatilization. In the phytostabilization, the heavy metals are immobilized by the root of the plant. In phytofiltration, the heavy metals are absorb by the root of the plant from aqueous waste streams. In this study Cr(VI) and phenol were accumulated into the root, stem and leaves of the plants, therefore, phytoextraction is the main mechanism of removal. Heavy metals are absorbed by the root of the plant through plasmalemma and get accumulated into the cells of the root of a plant [30]. Heavy metal gets accumulated into the roots and then transferred to stem and leaves through ion exchange mechanism [31].

Section snippets

Materials and method

Samples of water hyacinth were collected from Solani River Roorkee, India from the stagnant water body and cleaned with distilled water to remove dirt and soluble substances. All the plants used for the experimentation were of same size and 4–5 weeks old. After washing, plants were dried using tissue paper and weigh the initial weight of the plants. 3% Hoagland nutrient solution was used for the growth of water hyacinth [32] in the photosynthesis chamber under controlled conditions (30 ± 1 °C, 45 

Characterization of root, stem and leaf of water hyacinth before uptake and after uptake of Cr(VI) and phenol

For the characterization of different parts of water hyacinth such as root, stem and leaves of fresh plant before and after uptake of Cr(VI) and phenol was dried in hot air oven at 50 °C. After drying it was grounded to the fine particle size and was stored in vacuum dessicator.

Results and discussion

There are various factors which affect the metal accumulation in water hyacinth (E. Crassipes). These factors are age of plant, temperature, light intensity, pH, concentration of toxic metals, competition with other ions, and time of exposure of with heavy metals extra. Four different concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 mg/L (5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L) of Cr(VI) and 10 to 40 mg/L (10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/L) of phenol was used for the experimentation purpose. The percentage removal of Cr(VI) and phenol

Conclusion

In this study, water hyacinth was used for the removal of Cr(VI) and phenol from single and binary solution of Cr(VI) and phenol which proved to be a potential macrophyte for the removal of Cr(VI) and phenol. It was observed that uptake of Cr(VI) was more in the presence of phenol. The reason behind this fact Cr(VI) and phenol was combined to from the complexes due which it can be easily consumed by the plant. Phenol can also be utilized as carbon or carbohydrate energy source by the plant

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges financial support provided by the MHRD assistantship by Government of India and Chemical engineering Department IIT Roorkee, Indian instrumentation center IIT Roorkee for the facility provided for conducting research work.

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