A comparison of Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae) and Sphagnum quinquefarium (Sphagnaceae) in treatment of acid mine water
- Marshall Univ., Huntington, WV (USA)
Tests were conducted under greenhouse conditions to evaluate the ability of Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae) and Sphagnum quinquefarium (Sphagnaceae) to ameliorate acid mine water discharged from coal operations. In addition, the survivorship and growth rate of E. crassipes (water-hyacinth), cultured in toxic acid mine water, were determined. The results of both short- and long-term studies indicated that E. crassipes readily reduced levels of heavy metals in acid mine water while the plants exhibited few signs of toxicity. Patterns of reduction of pollutants, for both E. crassipes and S. quinquefarium indicated that treatment efficiency could be improved by the periodic harvesting of plants. It is suggested that the ease with which water-hyacinths can be introduced into wetlands and harvested cannot be economically duplicated with other plants currently in use in treating acid mine water.
- OSTI ID:
- 6202733
- Journal Information:
- Economic Botany; (USA), Journal Name: Economic Botany; (USA) Vol. 44:1; ISSN 0013-0001; ISSN ECBOA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BRYOPHYTA
GROWTH
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MOSSES
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
USES
WATER HYACINTHS
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT