Phytoremediation Potential of Few Natural Plants to Decontaminate Distillery Spent Wash Polluted Soil

Author: Prashant Kumar, Beena Kumari, Amit Vaish, Yashwant Rai and N. P. Singh

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Abstract

Due to complexation of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) and mixture of organic pollutants sugarcane dependent distillery discharge is a threat to environment for its safe disposal. The distillery sludge contains mixture of complex organic pollutants as well as high quantity of Pb, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu and Ni which enhance the toxicity of discharge to the environment. Concentrations of nine metals i.e., Mg, Cd, Mn, Cr, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb in soils and natural herbs species Cannabis sativa and Argemone maxicana collected from distillery spent wash discharge sites were investigated. This indicated high accumulation and translocation potential of these plants. The bioaccumulation and transfer of metals from soil to plants was evaluated in terms of Bioconcentration Factor (BCF). Further, the bioconcentration factor and translocation factor (TF) for various metals were found greater than one for these plants. This has provided robust evidence for a hyper accumulatory tendency for these plants as well as, indicating the heterogeneous adaptive properties of these plants grown in a highly polluted site. The polluted site became a challenge for the survival of human being and also the environment. Thus, our aim was to define that which plant species exhibit the accumulation potential and evaluate whether these species could be usefully employed for phytoremediation. Phytoremediation is an economic, efficient and unique eco-friendly modern technology. Our results indicated that both Cannabis sativa and Argemone maxicana are accumulator for the studied heavy metals.

Keywords

Distillery discharge, Phytoremediation, Translocation Factor, Bioconcentration Factor, Bioaccumulation

Conclusion

Outcomes indicated that Cannabis sativa and Argemone maxicana are accumulator for the studied heavy metals. In soils as well as in both the plants the concentrations of heavy metals have the sequence of “Fe> Mn> Zn >Cu >Pb> Ni >Cr> Cd. Except Cd, roots of both the plants show high concentrations of all these metals, and thus are the best biomonitor’s for heavy metal pollution in the site under investigation.BCF (Bioconcentration Factor) values were highest for Cd and Zn, and lowest for Pb and Ni. These plant species could be considered hyper-acumulators and phytoextracted. However, they had relatively low BCFs for Fe compared with other metals. The high concentration of Fe in the roots of the studied plants and the low translocation in the above ground parts indicated that they are suitable for phytostabilizing this element in the area studied. The results of this study suggest that these plant species may be suitable options for phytoremediation. Biotechnologically and genetically engineered approaches can be employed to improve naturally occurring plants to decontaminate hazardous compounds. The authors have the opinion that use of natural plants for depolluted contaminated site must be investigated further in favor of environment.

References

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How to cite this article

Prashant Kumar, Beena Kumari, Amit Vaish, Yashwant Rai and N. P. Singh (2023). Phytoremediation Potential of Few Natural Plants to Decontaminate Distillery Spent Wash Polluted Soil. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5a): 654-660.