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U.S. Department of Energy
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Water hyacinths and alligator weeds for removal of lead and mercury from polluted waters

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7361111
Removal of lead and mercury by water hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) (Mart.) Solms and alligator weeds (Alternanthera philoxeroides) (Mart.) Griesb. was investigated. Water hyacinths demonstrated the ability to remove 0.176 mg of lead and 0.150 mg of mercury per gram of dry plant material from distilled water and river water in a 24-hour period. One acre of water hyacinths is potentially capable of removing 105.6 grams of lead and 90.0 grams of mercury per day. Alligator weeds removed 0.101 mg of lead per gram of dry plant material in a 24-hour period. This same plant also demonstrated the ability to remove a minimum of 0.153 mg of mercury per gram of dry plant material in a six hour period. (STAR)
Research Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Bay St. Louis, Miss. (USA). National Space Technology Labs.
OSTI ID:
7361111
Report Number(s):
N-75-22937; NASA-TM-X-72723
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English