Parameters for removal of toxic heavy metals by water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s001289900257· OSTI ID:478333

Wang, T C; Ramesh, G ^[1]; Weissman, J C; Varadarajan, R ^[2]

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1. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Ft. Pierce, FL (United States)
2. Microbial Products, Inc., Vero Beach, FL (United States); and others

Due to the increasing awareness of toxic heavy metals contamination to the environment, studies of metal accumulation from the view point of metal removal from contaminated water have been performed. Conventional methods including precipitation, oxidation, reduction, ion exchange, filtration, electrochemical treatment, membrane technologies and evaporation recovery are expensive or ineffective, especially when the metal concentrations are very low in the order of 1 to 100 mg/L. The use of biological systems for removing metals from low metal solution has the potential to achieve greater performance at lower cost. Water milfoil, a rooted aquatic higher plants, has been identified as a potential plant for bioremoval process. The goal of this study was to determine the range of metal adsorptive capabilities by water milfoil under different pH conditions. Five metals, cadmium, zinc, nickel, lead and copper, were used. 9 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: AC22-88ID12735
• OSTI ID: 478333
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 57; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CONTAMINATION
METALS
PH VALUE
PLANTS
REMEDIAL ACTION
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SURFACE WATERS